Stock image.

High number of air pollution incidents in Edenderry

Edenderry has some of the highest number of air pollution incidents in the country, according to recent figures.

A report published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows air quality levels exceeded the recommended daily limit for a type of particles known as PM10 on 10 days in Edenderry last year.

The highest number of such exceedances was in Ennis (21), followed by Tralee (14) and Ringsend (11).

Legally, the limit is deemed breached if more than 35 exceedances occur during the year. The EPA says these particulates can consist of direct emissions such as dust, emissions from combustion engines, from the burning of solid fuels or natural sources such as windblown salt, plant spores and pollens.

PM levels are usually at their highest during winter months due to emissions from fires and stoves from increased burning of solid fuels.

The EPA figures show the majority of the PM10 exceedances in Edenderry last year occurred around January.

The highest PM10 level recorded at the monitoring station based at Edenderry Library was on January 24, 2022, when at one point the level was over five times the 50 micrograms (µg/m³) limit.