Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
9. AIR QUALITY
9.1 Introduction
The likely impact on ambient air quality associated with the proposed Newlands Cross
Upgrade is assessed in this section of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The
assessment focuses on traffic-related pollutants – carbon monoxide (CO), benzene, nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5).
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The data available on the existing air quality is reviewed, the likely air quality impact is
assessed and mitigation measures are proposed where required.
9.2 Air Quality Standards and Other Relevant Guidance
In order to reduce the risk of poor air quality on human health and on the environment,
national and European statutory bodies have set limit values in ambient air for a range of air
pollutants. These limit values or Air Quality Standards (AQS) are defined for the protection
of human health and ecosystems.
The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 271 of 2002) establish the limit values
in Ireland for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM10), benzene and carbon
monoxide (CO). These regulations are based on the EU Directives 1999/30/EC and
2000/69/EC. The limit values relevant to this assessment are shown in Table 9.1 below.
Since these directives were issued the EU has proposed the Directive of the European
Parliament and of the Council on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe, 2005 1 .
The most significant change recommended in this proposed Directive is the replacement of the
indicative Stage 2 limit values for PM10 (20μg/m 3 ) with the Stage 1 limit of 40μg/m 3 . In
addition, a legally binding cap for annual average concentrations of PM2.5 at 25μg/m 3 is
proposed to be attained by 2010. The limits specified in the proposed Directive are included in
Table 9.1.
December 2007 Page 137