A Northern Ireland Council has issued advice on fuel use to its residents after parts of one town hit the highest levels of air pollution possible last weekend.
Some residents in the Strabane area received text alerts informing them that the air pollution levels in the area had reached 10 - the highest level on the Air Quality NI scale.
The text alerts were issued by the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
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Derry City and Strabane Council has since issued advice to those in the area to only use ‘smokeless’ fuels when heating their homes.
“Council recognises during the cost of living crisis local people are looking for alternative ways to heat homes and using solid fuel either as a primary or secondary heating source,” a statement from the council said.
“Unfortunately burning solid fossil fuels can give rise to high pollution levels in the form of particulate matter which can be harmful to our health, especially to anyone with underlying health conditions.
“Council would encourage those who are burning solid fuels only to use smokeless solid fuel, and also remind the public who live in Smoke Control Areas of Strabane, Castlederg and Newtonstewart, that emitting smoke from their chimneys could result in a fine of up to £1000.”
The Strabane, Castlederg and Newtownstewart areas have been designated as ‘Smoke Control Areas’ which mean special rules apply to the types of fuel residents are allowed to use.
Head of Health and Community Wellbeing at Derry City and Strabane District Council, Seamus Donaghy, explained that the aim of Smoke Control Areas is to protect the public.
"When fuels such as coal, wood and turf are burnt, the smoke they emit can contain harmful gases and microscopic particles which can cause damaging health effects," he explained.
"Smoke Control Areas are in place to control domestic particulate emissions from solid fuel burning and protect the public's health and the quality of the air that we all breathe.
"The people most at risk to these harmful effects are the young, the elderly and those with existing heart and respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. It's therefore important that these control measures are continued in Strabane, Castlederg and Newtownstewart to ensure the public's health is protected."
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