Pollutants levels still too high in Brandywell

Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are measured at three sites.

One of the sites, in Derry’s Brandywell, show high levels of the pollutant are present in the area. PAHs are known as environmental pollutants, produced when fuels such as coal, oil, wood, or petrol are burned.

The data forms part of a report published on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), which shows the level of air pollution in NI. The Brandywell site as well as others at Ballymena Ballykeel and Kilmakee Leisure Centre serve as monitoring stations for the harmful pollutant across the North. Levels of the pollutant breach target levels set by UK law known as ‘AQS objectives.’ In 2016, the Brandywell site breached targets set by the EU, although current levels remain below the EU threshold.

According to the report: “No site exceeded the EU target value of 1 ng m-3 for annual mean B[a]P concentration during 2019 (which was to be met by 31st Dec 2012). All three sites continue to exceed the more stringent AQS annual mean objective of 0.25 ng m-3 for this PAH species, which was to have been achieved by 31st Dec 2010.”

The air pollution report in summary also says that: “Air quality in NI has improved substantially in recent decades.

“In particular, concentrations of sulphur dioxide, a pollutant associated with coal and oil combustion, have declined significantly over the past twenty years. However, some pollutants in some parts of NI continue to exceed air quality objectives.”

The report outlines that when objectives are not expected to be met by their relevant target date, councils are required to declare an Air Quality Management Area.

Derry City &Strabane District Council tied with Belfast City Council with the highest number of AQMAs at four.