Stormont “needs to get back to work and urgently commit to a clean air strategy”, says an NI lung and asthma charity.
Their comments follow the publication of the latest air quality report for Northern Ireland, which found we are failing to meet most WHO recommended air pollution levels.
But the true size of the problem is unknown as pollution levels are not being monitored across most of Northern Ireland 20 years on from the first official report on the issue.
Read more: Level of cancer causing air pollution in Belfast exceeds WHO recommendations
NI has just 22 air quality monitoring stations, nine of which are in greater Belfast.
Derry has four and Strabane two while there is one in Armagh, Downpatrick, Dungiven, Fermanagh’s Lough Navar, Newry, Newtownstewart and Strabane.
Even at sites where data is captured, the latest report from the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs shows while they all comply with UK air quality standards, most don’t meet WHO recommended guidelines published in 2021.
This includes harmful pollutants like carcinogenic fine particulates PM2.5s, PM10s, nitrogen dioxide and ozone which largely come from traffic and burning oil, gas and solid fuels.
The region is also responsible for 5.1% of the total PM10s emitted across the UK, 5.8% of all PM2.5s despite having just 2.9% of the UK population.
While the three areas where we measure Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), which can also cause cancer, bronchitis and impact DNA at high levels, are in the UK’s worst eight areas.
Despite the stark figures, a Clean Air Strategy put to public consultation in November 2020 and closing in February 2021, has still not been published.
Green Party councillor Rachel Woods has called on Edwin Poots to get it in place.
She says there is “not enough monitoring and we need WHO guidelines”.
“Dirty air is a public health issue. It’s really concerning especially because you can’t see it,” she added.
“Air pollution is currently costing Northern Ireland hundreds of millions, but more worryingly, hundreds of lives. In 2010, air pollution contributed to 553 adult deaths in Northern Ireland and across Ireland, certain pollutants contributed to a minimum of 1700 deaths.”
Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland says Northern Ireland is on an air pollution cliff edge and fear what will happen if traffic returns to 2019 levels.
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland, said: “Stormont needs to get back to work and urgently commit to a Clean Air Strategy and investment in public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure to give people other options to travel around their neighbourhood without contributing to toxic air.
“Air pollution is... the biggest environmental threat to public health, causing the early deaths of over 500 people each year, causing children to develop asthma, worsening conditions like COPD and it is linked to stroke, diabetes, cancer, mental health conditions and many others.
“The report shows air pollution in Northern Ireland is still higher than the new World Health Organisation recommended limits, so even with these figures there is a lot of work that needs doing.
“We are at a cliff edge and still have a long way to go to hit the new WHO 2021 limits on NO2 and PM2.5.
“We need a new Clean Air strategy and legislation to keep us all safe. We need to improve the monitoring network to ensure the data being captured is consistent across every community, so everyone knows the risks in their area and can protect their health.”
DAERA was contacted for comment.
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