Clean air is a vital requirement for life and for many industrial processes. Inhalation is the principal route of entry into our bodies of pollutants in the form of gases, vapours and particles. Many modern industries, such as microelectronics, aerospace and health care products operate in stringent clean room conditions, while others, such as food preparation and pharmaceuticals, require increasingly demanding air quality standards. Concern for the environment requires studies of the effects of pollutants in the atmosphere on global climate change, damage to plants and property, public health and the quality of life in urban, rural, industrial, commercial and domestic settings. Hence the need to be able to establish the quality of the air for a given application and the concentrations of pollutants, gaseous and particulate, in it.

The Air Quality Technology Centre (AQTC) in the Department of Physics of the National University of Ireland, Galway, evolved from a long tradition of education and research on atmospheric pollution and occupational hygiene. It has benefited from funding from the European Union’s STRIDE Environment sub-programme, Measure 1, for upgrading RT&D capability in the regions, and from Enterprise Ireland. It draws support from the technical and information resources of the University and the academic expertise available in the various departments to complement its own resources and experienced staff. The AQTC is now offering industry, commerce, public authorities and other groups a research and consultancy service on all aspects of air quality in outdoor and indoor settings.

Recent or current projects include a survey of PM10 particulate matter in Dublin city, mercury vapour levels in ambient air, thermal comfort surveys of offices, solvent levels in factories, pollutants produced by the laser processing of materials, and assisting compliance with occupational exposure standards. Specialised equipment available includes a portable mass spectrometer, optical particle counters, toxic gas detectors, a scanning electron microscope, a microbalance and a thermal stress meter.

The AQTC also contributes to education and technology transfer though short courses on health and safety at work, aspects of occupational hygiene and air pollution measurements, as well as a major input into the postgraduate courses for an M.Sc. and a Higher Diploma in Applied Science (Occupational Health and Hygiene

Contact: Prof. S.G. Jennings, Director AQTC,
Department of Physics, NUI, Galway;
Tel: 091-750364; Fax: 091-750584;
E-mail: gerard.jennings@nuigalway.ie