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Environmental information systems
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The indicator shows the number of annual premature deaths attributable to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and the related zero-pollution action plan objective for 2030. Premature deaths are derived from a health risk assessment approach based on World Health Organization Europe recommendations measuring the general impact of air pollution across a given population.
Limitations of methodology
In 2005, there was only one temporary monitoring station in Ireland for particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) (in compliance with the requirements at that time). To construct data for Ireland, the methodology developed pseudo PM2.5 data, based on particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less (PM10) measurement data and supplementary data. The constructed data, which represent the 2005 baseline in the graph, shows a significantly lower value than that measured at the one station. For this reason, the period between 2005 and 2010 is represented on the graph by a dashed line. Reliably validating the data in the graph, within Ireland between 2005 and 2010, is not possible for the reasons outlined in the limitations box above. The trend in the graph does not reflect the industrial, economic or societal trends in Ireland at this time, nor does it reflect PM2.5 emission data trends reported to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in the annual inventory reports for the same period.
Ireland now has an extensive PM2.5 monitoring network and its air quality is one of the best in Europe.
The annual average levels of PM2.5 from 2010 to 2023 remained significantly below the EU annual limit and they consistently reduced. In addition, the air emissions intensity of industry in Ireland was one of the lowest in Europe for 2015 and 2020.
Significant reductions in national emissions of key pollutants have already been achieved through a range of policy measures and developments. Ireland’s ambition in the Clean Air Strategy is to move towards the adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines. Although this will be challenging, it will have a significant positive impact on health.
References and footnotes
- ↵EPA, Ireland’s Informative Inventory Report, Wexford, 2024, https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/climate-change/air-emissions/IIR_Ireland_2024v1.pdf.
- a b cEPA, ‘Chapter 2 –Air’, in: Ireland’s State of the Environment Report 2024, Wexford, 2024, pp. 37–58, https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/assessment/state-of-environment-report-/.
- ↵EEA, ‘Premature deaths due to exposure to fine particulate matter in Europe’, EEA website, 10 December 2024, accessed 20 June 2025, https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/health-impacts-of-exposure-to.
- ↵DECC, Clean Air Strategy for Ireland, Dublin, 2023, https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/927e0-clean-air-strategy/.