Air Pollution in Northern Ireland 2019 released

Date published: 22 October 2020

This statistical report reflects air quality in Northern Ireland for 2019 and contains summary information on key air quality monitoring results and analysis from data collected by automatic monitoring stations.

Download the report

The key points are:

• Northern Ireland collected data from 20 automatic monitoring stations during 2019.
• The report provides details of air quality monitoring undertaken and gives a summary of results, as well as long-term trends. It also sets out information on the progress being made by councils in managing local air quality and this year, highlights trends in ground level ozone and focuses on particulate matter in Northern Ireland.
• In 2019, objectives for most key air quality pollutants were met in full. However, objectives for nitrogen dioxide – a pollutant closely associated with road traffic – were not met at four sites that are close to busy roads.
• Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – which is measured at three sites – have remained beneath the EU target since the measured exceeded recorded in 2016 at Derry Brandywell. Against the stricter UK Air Quality Strategy objective for PAHs, all three sites exceeded the objective.
• Along with the Department, district councils have a duty to carry out air quality monitoring, and where air quality falls below acceptable levels they are required to declare Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). In the 2019 reporting year there were 19 AQMAs in Northern Ireland.
• The Department works closely with district councils and with other government departments to ensure that progress is being made towards meeting all air quality targets and objectives.

Further information

The Air Pollution in Northern Ireland 2019 Report can be accessed either through the DAERA website or the Air quality in Northern Ireland website.