The State may fail to comply with forthcoming EU air quality legislation because of the pollution from road traffic, the Environmental Protection Agency has warned. The EPA yesterday published an assessment of Ireland's air quality, which is necessary under a EU Framework Directive on air quality. The report found it may be difficult to comply with stringent new EU limits for two pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) and particulate matter (PM ), both of which are found in traffic emissions.
Levels of these pollutants are especially high in urban areas. EU limits on the levels of various pollutants will be introduced in 2005 and in 2010.