Air quality monitoring in Cork City
Heatherton Park The Heatherton Park station is located on a suburban housing estate; 2 km south of Cork City Centre and is operated by Cork City Council. The automated particulate matter method provides information on hourly average concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 . Benzo (a) Pyrene and heavy metals are also monitored as part of the Particulate Matter analysis. Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ) data are provided as rolling 24-hour average values. South Link Road The South Link Road station is located on the south side of Cork City, at Tramore Valley Park. The site is operated by Cork City Council. The station updates every two to five minutes. Monitoring is done using continuous monitors for sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NO X ), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O 3 ). Continuous samples are also taken for particulates (PM 10 ), and benzene. The automated particulate matter method provides information on hourly average concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 . The measurement methods used for gravimetric PM 10 and PM 2.5 are not automatic therefore the results are not available immediately. Ozone (O 3 ) is provided as a rolling 8-hour average value. Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) is provided as a rolling 24-hour average value. University College Cork - Distillery Fields The Distillery Fields station is located on the grounds of the University College Cork’s (UCC) North Mall campus. The site is operated in partnership by the EPA and UCC. The station updates every two to five minutes. Monitoring is done using continuous monitors for nitrogen oxides (NO X ), ozone (O 3 ) and particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). Ozone (O 3 ) is provided as a rolling 8-hour average value. Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) is provided as a rolling 24-hour average value. Munster Technological University The station at Munster Technological University (MTU) is located on the grounds of the Bishopstown campus and is operated by MTU staff on behalf of the EPA. The station updates every two to five minutes. Monitoring is carried using continuous monitors for particulate matter (PM 10 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and ozone (O 3 ). Ozone is provided as a rolling 8-hour average value. Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) is provided as a rolling 24-hour average value.
3.3 District Level Air Quality Monitoring Network These sensors use laser particle counters to provide real time measurement of PM 2.5 . They are located at 15 sites across Cork city (as of June 2021), as outlined in Table 3.3. below.
No.
Location
Status
1
Tramore Valley Park, South Link Road
Live Live Live Live Live Live Live Live Live Live Live Live Live Live Live
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Blackrock Castle
Museum, Fitzgerald’s Park
Mayfield Library
Ballyphehane Library
Hollyhill Library
MTU Bishopstown Campus Lifetime Lab, Lee Road Ballinlough Road, Ballinlough
10
Douglas
11
Distillery Fields, UCC North Mall Campus
12 13 14 15
The Square, Blarney City Centre South Mall
Glanmire
North Ring Road
Table 3.3
Location of Local Area Air Quality Sensors
16
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