A REPORT by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into the fire that broke out at the Oxigen Environmental Waste Facility in Ballymount in January has revealed that there was no significant impact on pollution levels in the air.
The EPA was informed, via its emergency line, in the early hours of Saturday, January 25 of a serious fire outbreak at the facility.
EPA officials were quickly on site and continued to attend each day, working in coordination with the gardaà and Dublin Fire Brigade in managing the incident.
The fire was brought under control on Sunday, January 26 although it continued to burn for a further three days.
The EPA conducted air monitoring in the vicinity of the site and issued advice on air quality through its twitter feed over the course of the incident.
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, subsequently requested that the EPA prepare a report on the impact of the fire on air quality in the Dublin area.
The completed report indicates that local residents were unlikely to have been exposed to elevated pollutant levels for any significant period of time or to have experienced prolonged symptoms.
“Monitoring results showed that the most significant impact of the fire on air quality was focused in the vicinity of the fire and dispersion of the plume diluted its impact across the greater Dublin area,
? the report states.
“High wind speeds assisted in the dispersion of the smoke plume so the down-wind concentration of the pollutants in the plume was reduced.
“Elevated levels of pollutants were recorded in the smoke plume in close proximity to the fire and indicate the potential for short-term effects such as discomfort for exposed individuals.
“However, the most elevated pollutant levels were recorded inside the boundary of the area cordoned-off by the gardai which is zoned for industrial use and has no residential households.
“No businesses were open within the cordon when the elevated pollutant levels were measured.
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The report adds:
“Residents outside the cordon in the vicinity of Ballymount Industrial Estate who followed the health advice that issued at the time of the incident – to shelter indoors and avoid physical exertion – are unlikely to have been exposed to elevated pollutant levels for any significant period of time or to have experienced prolonged symptoms.
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Overall, the report concluded that the air quality impact of the fire was localised and transient and that there was no significant potential for any long-term health impacts as a result of the incident.
Minister Hogan commended the EPA, the gardai and the fire service for their prompt response and management of
“a serious incident
?.
“I am relieved that the EPA’s assessment of the air quality impact has shown that public exposure to elevated levels of pollutants was minimal,
? the minister added.
“Nonetheless I appreciate that the fire was distressing for residents in the area, particularly vulnerable people with respiratory illnesses or cardiac conditions.
“The incident highlights the importance of clean air for our public health, and that we have the expertise to effectively monitor and assess the impact of significant air pollution episodes.
“It is of the utmost importance that the causes of this incident are fully investigated and that any appropriate follow up action is taken to minimise the risks of a similar incident occurring in the future.
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The EPA is continuing investigations into the incident.