Because of Ireland’s location, weather patterns that supply predominantly clean air, the relative lack of heavy industry and the bans on coal burning in many urban areas since the early 1990s, air quality is generally very good.
Air pollution is linked to a range of health problems, from minor eye irritation to upper respiratory symptoms in the short-term and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer in the long-term.
PM10 is the name given to tiny particulate matter small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lung.
All OECD countries monitor levels of PM10 because it can harm human health and reduce life expectancy.
In Ireland, PM10 levels are 12.5 micrograms per cubic meter, much lower than the OECD average of 22 micrograms per cubic meter.
Only New Zealand and Sweden had cleaner air than Ireland. (11 and 12 micrograms)
The worst air quality was in Turkey (37) followed by Poland ( 35) and Mexico (33)
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