Locations and How to Read the Graphs Below
Air monitoring stations are installed at Talbot Green, Wexford Town and in Ard Mhicil, New Ross. Similiar air monitoring equipment is due to be installed in Enniscorthy and Gorey during 2017.
This equipment measures the amount of small particles in the air such as smoke and emissions from fires and diesel engines.
- Total particulates (Blue Line)
- Particulates 10 micrometers in size, PM10 (Red Line)
- Particulates 2.5 micrometers in size, PM2.5 (Yellow Line)
- Particulates 1.0 micrometres in size, PM 1 (Green Line)
It then calculates how much of these particulates are in each metre3 air.
The graphs below are refreshed every 15 minutes and reflect the 24 hour and 7 day data air quality in Wexford Town and New Ross.
24 hour Air Quality Reading
7 day Air Quality Reading
These results should be compared to the Air Quality Index for Health as developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with the Health Service Executive (HSE) as given below.
Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH)
|
Band |
At Risk Individuals |
General Population |
Index |
PM 2.5 24-hour mean (ug/m3) |
PM 10 24-hour mean (ug/m3) |
|
|
Good air quality |
Enjoy your usual outdoor activities |
Enjoy your usual outdoor activities |
1 |
0 - 11 |
0 - 16 |
|
|
2 |
12 - 24 |
17 - 33 |
||||
|
3 |
24 - 35 |
34 - 50 |
||||
|
Fair air quality |
Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, who experience symptoms, should consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors |
Enjoy your usual outdoor activities |
4 |
36 - 41 |
51 - 58 |
|
|
5 |
42 - 47 |
59 - 66 |
||||
|
6 |
48 - 53 |
67 - 75 |
||||
|
Poor air quality |
Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems,should reduce strenuous physical activity, partifularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms |
Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors |
7 |
54 - 58 |
76 - 83 |
|
|
8 |
59 - 64 |
84 - 91 |
||||
|
9 |
65 - 70 |
92 - 100 |
||||
|
Very poor air quality |
Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, and older people should avoid strenuous physical activity. People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often |
Reduce physical exertion, particularly outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as cough or sore throat |
10 |
71 or more |
101 or more |
|
Help Patients who are Sensitive to Air Pollution
The Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) can be used by health professionals to help patients who are sensitive to air pollution, manage their condition and reduce their symptoms.
The AQIH is based on World Health Organisation Guidelines. Health advice is provided for two groups:
- those at risk from air pollution
- the general population.
As a health professional, you may be asked by your patients about whether they belong to an at risk group. Adults and children with heart or lung conditions including asthma are those considered to be at higher risk from air pollution.
People in at risk groups may experience symptoms when air quality is fair, poor or very poor however those who are highly sensitive to air pollution may even experience symptoms when air quality is good.
The general population may experience symptoms when air quality is poor or very poor.