The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan T.D., today (9th April 2014) 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 26th January but continued to burn for a further 3 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. The report is also being made available on the EPA’s website – www.epa.ie .
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.
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.”
Minister Hogan added: “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.”
The EPA is continuing its investigations into the incident from a licence compliance perspective, after which further enforcement action may be considered.
Notes to editor:
The EPA commenced a programme of indicative air quality monitoring on Saturday January 25th in response to this incident. This programme ran until the afternoon of Friday January 31st. Measurements of pollutant levels were taken directly in the plume in close proximity to the source of the smoke. Monitoring locations were determined by observations at the scene (e.g. dispersion of smoke) and locations of vulnerable receptors including residences and businesses. This programme acted as an addition to the network of ambient air quality monitoring stations already in place in the Dublin metropolitan area; with this supplementary monitoring being carried out in closer proximity to the location of the fire.
The EPA consulted with the HSE during the incident to obtain public health advice in the event that the wind changed direction and directed the smoke plume towards nearest residences (which did not happen). The detail of the advice provided was as follows:
“Any smoke can be an irritant and the advice is to keep out of the smoke. Staying indoors with the doors and windows closed will give a good level of protection. If people need to be outdoors, they are advised to avoid areas affected by any smoke and to limit the time they spend in it. Smoke can worsen existing health problems so people who have respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma may notice these effects more than others. Some of the substances in smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages, the skin and the eyes. Respiratory symptoms can include coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. If symptoms occur, people should avoid affected areas, reduce their level of activity, take their medications as prescribed and seek medical advice.”
The siting of waste facilities is a matter for each planning authority and the relevant development and waste management plans. The EPA assesses each licence application on a case by case basis and may only grant a licence if it is deemed that the activity can be carried out in manner which will not cause environmental pollution.
From a licencing perspective, the priority for the EPA is to ensure that the necessary management practices are in place to eliminate the causes of this type of incident and to protect human health and the environment. All licences contain conditions requiring the licensee to have an appropriate Accident Prevention Policy and Emergency Response Procedure to reduce the risk and impact of any incident or accident. The onus is on the licensee to comply with the conditions of the licence.
Based on the stock report compiled by Oxigen Environmental there was a range of wastes on site on Friday 24th January consisting of mixed dry recyclables, segregated dry recyclables (e.g. cardboard, plastic, glass), construction and demolition waste, solid recovered fuel and some hazardous waste including asbestos, paint and batteries. The exact quantities of wastes consumed by the fire has not been determined. However, the materials combusted included mixed waste and plastics, paint and car batteries. Asbestos was being stored in containers and trailers in the yard area and was not significantly impacted by the fire.
A report prepared by Dublin Fire Brigade on the incident has also been sent to the Department for information and will be considered in the context of any procedural or operational policy initiatives which may mitigate the waste sector’s particular fire risks. The EPA is also undertaking an assessment of fire control measures at waste facilities in conjunction with the Fire Service to determine whether further controls can be put in place to prevent or reduce the impact of such fires