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Air quality in Newry has improved significantly during the month of April. The only DAERA Air Quality Monitor present in Newry is situated in Canal Street, regarded as one of the busiest streets in the city.
The Covid-19 pandemic measures have seen most workplaces either closed or employees working from home. This coupled with the decrease in people leaving their homes for anything other than essential trips has resulted in a dramatic reduction in traffic in Newry city since mid to late March.
Just over one third of Nitric Oxide (Nitrogen monoxide) was produced in April this year compared to 2019 and under half the level of Nitrogen dioxide was measured in April compared to 2019. Both Nitrogen monoxide and dioxide are released into the atmosphere when fuels are burned (for example, petrol or diesel in a car engine, or natural gas in a domestic boiler).
Particulate matter, ie fine particles of solid matter or liquid droplets in the air was also down but not as significantly.
***There is evidence that high levels of Nitrogen dioxide can inflame the airways in our lungs and, over a long period of time, affect how well our lungs work. People with asthma are particularly affected.
** Particulate matter causes serious health problems among people with pre-existing lung or heart disease and/or the elderly and children. There is also evidence that short and long term exposure to particulate matter cause respiratory and cardiovascular illness and even death.
April 2019/2020 Figures *
Monthly Average Levels of Nitric Oxide were 49 in April 2019 and 17 in April 2020
Monthly Average Levels of Nitrogen Dioxide were 59 in April 2019 and 26 in April 2020
Monthly Average Levels of Nitrogen Oxides as Nitrogen Dioxide were 134 in April 2019 and 53 in April 2020
Monthly Average levels of PM10 particulate matter were 28 in April 2019 and 21 in April 2020
*Source Airqualityni.co.uk
** Source UK-AIR.DEFRA.GOV.UK
*** Source WWW.DAERA-NI.GOV.UK
