Something In The Air?

On Monday, concerned GG reader Stephen Hone got in touch with some alarming data on his phone.

Apparently, Greystones air pollution was at a certifiably unhealthy 167.

Pop over to Dhaka Division in Bangladesh on the same app, and it was 163.

Later that night – it’s always later that night – Stephen sent some more screenshots of data from his Air Matters, which seemed to show a major spike on August 21st, and more bad news on the 23rd (180) and again last night (160).

Stephen had one question to ask GG. What the frick is going on? Or words to that affect.

We got in touch with the environment boys and girls down at Wicklow County Council, and before the close of day, Matthew Carroll got back to us with the following…

The Environmental Protection Agency manages the National Ambient Air Quality Network. Bray, Co. Wicklow station updates every two to five minutes with the calculated Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) The Bray site is located in grounds of Bray Town Council yard on Wurzburg road. Monitoring is done using continuous monitors for ozone and Particulate Matter (PM2.5). For the most recent results ,see charts below

Based on the most recent information from the recognised authority who would have appropriate calibrated equipment to monitor Air Quality (not a mobile phone APP or similar) things are look fine.

Talking to Matt on the phone, he reckons readings from such apps can be easily swayed by nearby changes in the air – such as a car revving – and feels that the Environmental Protection Agency should have a Greystones station as part of their National Ambient Air Quality Network.

Matt also gave us lots of background facts and figures – and two shiny graphs showing the latest results available – and spoke of shortcomings in the system, but, being thick, and being clocking out time, we didn’t quite grasp it all.

In the meantime, he reckons Greystonians should get in touch with the EPA, and let them know that Wicklow needs more air quality stations. You can reach them on .