Local air quality now available online

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new web-based air quality index for health (AQIH) that shows current air quality in Offaly and across Ireland.

The index has been developed in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, Met Eireann and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

It shows current air quality on a coloured scale divided into four bands - good, fair, poor and very poor.

The AQIH is calculated hourly and shows air quality and whether or not it might affect your health. The index - which can be viewed at www.airquality.epa.ie - also gives advice on what people should do when air quality is poor.

Discussing the new index EPA manager Barbara O’Leary said air quality can vary from town to town, day to day and hour to hour.

“The Air Quality Index for Health allows people in Offaly to keep informed about air quality in their town or area and its impact on their health and that of their family,” she said.

“The access to up to date and correct information on air quality is important to everyone but especially for anyone suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases who are more likely to be at risk from air pollution.”

Anyone who may be at risk is encouraged to check the index before doing any strenuous activity outdoors such as sports.

To support the new index the EPA has also launched a Twitter account @EPAAirQuality, which is updated twice a day and more frequently if there is an issue in a particular region.