Air Quality Monitoring

Air quality monitoring in Northern Ireland is currently a mixture of that carried out by the Department and that undertaken by district councils. Air Quality reports for NI for 2001 to 2004 can be found on the air quality publications page at www.ehsni.gov.uk/environment/air/aqpubs.shtml

The Department has a multi-pollutant station in Lombard St, hydrocarbon units and a sulphur dioxide site in Belfast as well as ozone and particulate (PM10) monitors at a rural site at Lough Navar in Co. Fermanagh.

The multi-pollutant site in Belfast monitors (sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides and particulates (PM10). It also monitors particulate carbon, particulate nitrate, particulate sulphate as well as carrying out bacterological sampling and particle counts. More details on the site can be obtained from the pollution control department of Belfast City Council who maintain the site. Tel no (028) 90270428 or e mail pollution@belfastcity.gov.uk.

Monitoring of poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PaHs), now takes place in Lisburn and Clara St in Belfast.

In addition to the Department's sites, Sulphur dioxide and smoke are measured by several councils as part of a national network and several councils are currently involved in a national nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube survey which commenced in 1993.

Belfast City Council have installed a particulate matter (PM10) monitor, in Clara Street in East Belfast and a multi-pollutant site, similar to the Department's Belfast site, has been operated by Derry City Council since 1997.

Data from these sites is widely available through their integration into the national government networks which provide for quality assurance and quality control of the data as well as analysis and comparison in a national context.

Air quality information from these sites, together with health advice is provided hourly through CEEFAX (p.412), TELETEXT (p.156), an interactive Freephone air quality helpline (0800 556677) and the Internet at www.airquality.co.uk

Additional new sites have been commissioned by district councils. These sites have been funded by the Departments' local air quality grant scheme and will be used to collate data necessary for the review and assessment of local air quality.