New study finds high levels of harmful pollutant across Dublin’s inner city
By Cate McCurry, PA
A new study has found high levels of nitrogen dioxide across Dublin’s inner city – with particularly high concentrations on Cork Street, the Quays, O’Connell Street and in the area around Temple Bar.
The data showed that during the sampling period, 49.4 per cent of days exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines of the harmful pollutant, also known as NO2, with peaks during rush hours, especially in winter.
The data was collected as part of the Google Air View project, using electric Google Street View cars equipped with air sensors.
It was collected over a period of 16 months, from May 2021 to August 2022.
Those behind the study said it highlights the potential for a mobile monitoring approach to investigate the hyperlocal distribution of air pollutants in Dublin.
They said that monitoring and mapping would allow for a “comprehensive understanding” of the air pollution within Dublin city, enabling real-time information about the exposure level and hotspots.
The study was carried out by Dr Jiayao Chen, Dr Anna Molter, Dr Jose Pablo Gomez‑Barron and Prof Francesco Pilla from UCD’s School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy – and Dr David O’Connor from DCU’s School of Chemical Sciences.
Recent research evidence highlighted there was no safe level of air pollutants to cause adverse effects, with poor air quality linked to rises in asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease and heart failure.
The top 10 highly polluted areas included Cork Street, Saint John’s Road West, O’Connell Street Upper, the Temple Bar area and along the Wood Quay.
Speaking about the study, Dr Chen said: “Traffic pollution is a critical issue in urban cities, often contributing to or exacerbating environmental or social-economic inequalities.
“Hyper-local monitoring at community level using Google Street Vehicle car provides reliable data that is comparable to traditional fixed site monitoring stations.
“We uncovered distinct spatial and temporal patterns in two major pollutants associated with traffic – fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
“Our finding represents a unique case for Dublin, on highly polluted days domestic heating emerged as the dominant contributor to PM2.5 at street level.
“Our research emphasises the need for detailed temporal guidance, especially for vulnerable populations, to help guide safe indoor and outdoor activities.
“With the EU recently introducing stricter air quality guidelines, our findings underscore the need for long-term, localised monitoring to inform strategic mitigation plans tailored to both local and regional scales.”
Dr O’Connor said: “As more cities adopt hyperlocal sensing, the potential to create healthier urban environments grows.
“Localised air quality data provides the foundation for tailored, evidence-based policy solutions that can tackle pollution at its source, particularly in high-risk and vulnerable areas.
“Hyperlocal monitoring thus represents not only a technological advance but also a shift toward a more targeted, community-focused approach to environmental management.
“By addressing the unique pollution dynamics of each city, hyperlocal sensing has the power to drive meaningful improvements in air quality and urban health around the world.”
