Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan TD, has welcomed the publication of a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that assessed the impact on air quality arising from the fire that occurred at the Oxigen Environmental Waste Facility in Ballymount, Dublin 22.

The EPA was informed, via its emergency line, in the early hours of Saturday, 25th January of a serious fire outbreak at the facility. EPA officials were quickly on site and continued to attend the site each day, working in co-ordination with the Gardaí and Dublin Fire Brigade in managing the incident.

The fire was brought under control on Sunday 26 January but 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 for the duration of the event.

Minister Hogan subsequently requested that the EPA prepare a report on the impact of the fire on air quality in the Dublin area. The EPA has now completed and presented this report to the Minister.

In compiling the report, the EPA consulted with the Health Services Executive with regard to the human health impacts related to the fire. The air quality assessment is based on data available from a number of fixed sites in Dublin that form part of the national network of air quality monitoring stations, and measurements taken in close proximity to the fire using portable monitoring equipment operated by EPA personnel.

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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. 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 An Garda Siochana, 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.

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.

Overall, the report concluded that the air quality impact of the fire was localised and transient and there is no significant potential for any long-term health impacts as a result of the incident.

Minister Hogan said: "I would like to again commend the EPA, An Garda Siochana and the Fire Service for their prompt response and management of this 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. 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 expertise to effectively monitor and assess the impact of significant air pollution episodes."

(CD/JP)