About Us

Ambient Air Quality

The Dublin Airport Authority are building on the air monitoring previously carried out at Dublin Airport and expanding our programme to broaden our understanding of the local ambient air quality trends on all sides of the airport in a step-by-step fashion.  The purpose of the air monitoring is to maintain a ‘listening watch’ on the status of the local ambient air quality, and facilitate appropriate & timely actions if and when required.

The scope of the monitoring programme was broadened in 2005 to cover eleven sampling locations within and around Dublin Airport, and analyse for concentrations of those parameters that are likely to be associated with aviation activities (i.e. Nitrogen Oxides NOx, Sulphur Dioxide SOx, Particulates PM10, BTEX, Carbon Monoxide CO – refer to Glossary [hyperlink]).  Additional parameters introduced during the summer of 2005 are PM2.5 and Ozone.  This provides an integrated picture of the spatial and temporal variations of ambient air quality around the facility.  Results are assessed in conjunction with meteorological data from Met Éireann and statistics on aircraft movements.  Collated reports are reviewed on a quarterly basis and annualised figures compared with the relevant standards and EU legislation.

The Environment Department liaises with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the results of this monitoring and is working with the agency towards the introduction of a continuous air quality monitoring station.