WHO is saying most of central Ashbourne is polluted
The World Health Organisation has this week released new figures for their recommended air quality targets above which they believe there is a significant hazard to health.
The current 'Air Quality Objective' (AQO) for nitrogen oxides (NOx) is 40ugm-3 for long term exposure. Ideally there should be no NOx levels above 40ugm-3 just outside your front door.
Unfortunately many of Ashbourne's residents do currently live with such a situation.
However the WHO recommendations have just been drastically reduced as this chart shows.
Very few if any parts of Ashbourne are below the newly suggested AQO of 10ugm-3.
As for the new AQO on fine particulate matter - well, we have no idea, because the District Council is not measuring it.
However judging from the black dust that settles on the buildings along most of our busy streets there is plenty of it about!