Protecting Cavan’s Air Quality
Cavan County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) installed an Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station in Cavan Town in 2020, the monitoring unit can be found at Cavan Courthouse, Farnham Street, Cavan Town. The monitoring unit fitted is a FIDAS Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
Particulate matter is the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. The 2.5 and 10 refers to the size of the pollutant, in micrometers. The tiniest thing which the human eye can see is at least 70 micrometers. For you to see something this small you need to use a microscope.
Common sources of PM particles include:
- Dust from unsealed roads
- Smoke from fires
- Car and truck exhausts
- Industry
Health effects include asthma, lung cancer, and premature death.
The air monitoring system in Cavan Town measures and transmits the data in real-time with results presented on the EPA website, AirQuality.ie
The choices we make when heating our homes can impact our health, and our communities. Burning smoky fuels releases invisible toxins that damage our health. It increases air pollution, which can trigger asthma and lead to serious illness. We must make sure we only use low smoke fuels. And remember to clean and maintain chimneys and heating appliances at least once a year.
Many of the non-compliant products are more expensive and emit less heat for less time when burned so always choose the compliant low smoke fuels.
For further information on air quality or any other queries you may have regarding protecting the environment, please contact the Environment Section of Cavan County Council on 049 437 8486 or email environ@cavancoco.ie.
