People with lung or heart disease are being warned high levels of pollution could worsen their condition.
Environment chiefs issued a second warning on Tuesday evening about high pollution levels in the northwest that saw harmful particulate matters PM10 and PM2.5 hit 61 and 64 µgm-3 respectively at the city’s Rosemount air monitoring station.
For PM2.5s, which can cause cancer, COPD, coronary heart disease and stroke, that’s over four times the 24-hour average exposure the World Health says should not exceed 15 µg/m3 and almost a third higher than the 45 μg/m3 24-hour mean advised for PM10s.
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Levels of both in Strabane were also very high.
It followed a similar warning on Sunday that saw people across NI impacted.
A Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: “Following on from Sunday’s High Pollution episode, localised high and moderate levels of air pollution from particulate matter are once again being experienced in North West Northern Ireland.
“Met Office forecast indicates that the weather situation is unlikely to change significantly until the weekend which may cause this pollution to persist.
“The high levels of pollution are believed to be as a result of local pollution - home heating emissions and the current cold, calm weather conditions in which pollutants are not being dispersed.
“During periods of High Pollution the symptoms of people with lung or heart disease may worsen. Healthy people are unlikely to experience any ill effects.”
Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland have raised serious concerns about the rapid deterioration in air quality across the country.
A spokesperson said they “appreciate people may have to resort to burning solid fuels as a cheaper alternative to oil or gas, in the cost of living crisis”.
But they warned that “added to the cold and calm weather, this creates a negative impact on air quality, as pollutants are not being dispersed”.
The charity has called for a “functioning Assembly to deliver on a Clean Air Strategy and the £600 cost of living energy support for households, in the process better supporting people living with lung conditions”.
They would also like to see a ban on diling cars outside schools to better protect children from the impacts of air pollution.
For further information and hourly updates on levels of particulate matter (PM10 & PM2.5), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide please see the Department’s website: https://www.airqualityni.co.uk and for advice see http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/air-pollution-and-health
Subscribers to the Air Aware service will also have received a notification alert.
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