Ireland's UN SDGs - Goal 3 Good Health and Well-Being 2024

SDG 3.9.1 Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution

SDG 3.9.1 Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Definition

The SDG indicators metadata repository provides the following definition in the SDG 3.9.1 metadata document:

The mortality rate attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution can be expressed as: crude death rate or age-standardized death rate. Crude rates are calculated by dividing the brut number of deaths by the total population (or indicated if a different population group is used, e.g. children under 5 years), while the age-standardized rates adjust for differences in the age distribution of the population by applying the observed age-specific mortality rates for each population to a standard population.

Evidence from epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to air pollution is linked, among others, to the important underlying causes of death taken into account in this estimate:

• Acute lower respiratory infections (estimated in all age groups; ICD-10: J09-J22, P23, U04)
• Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke) in adults (estimated above 25 years; ICD-10: I60-I69)
• Ischaemic heart diseases (IHD) in adults (estimated above 25 years; ICD-10: I20-I25)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults (estimated above 25 years; ICD-10: J40-J44)
• Lung cancer in adults (estimated above 25 years; ICD-10: C33-C34).

Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality in Ireland Report 2023 states that air pollution can be a major environmental risk to people’s health. Ireland’s latest monitoring shows we are in compliance with current EU standards. The report also assesses that Ireland is not on track to achieve its ambition, set out in the National Clean Air Strategy, to meet the health-based WHO air quality guideline limits in 2026.

The EPA’s LIFE Emerald 3-day air quality forecast, launched in November 2023, consists of maps showing the Air Quality Index for Health and concentrations of four air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and O3 ) for today, tomorrow and the day after. Live data collected from the EPA’s air quality monitoring network, weather forecasts, and geographical information are input to the computer model to produce the forecast, validated in line with EU standards. The maps are updated twice a day. The forecast enables members of the public to make informed decisions about their planned activities that can positively affect their health.

The EPA reported a European Environment Agency (EEA) estimate of 1,600 total premature deaths in Ireland caused by respiratory diseases, strokes and heart disease, due to poor air quality for 2023.

The EEA also publishes estimates for premature mortality related to air pollution emissions in excess of the WHO guidelines for certain gases. The EEA reports on particulate matter (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and ozone (O₃).

In Ireland, the premature deaths attributed to PM_2.5, NO₂ and O₃ exposure in excess of the WHIO guidelines were 460, 60 and 70, respectively, in 2021. In the EU‑27, the premature deaths attributed to PM_2.5, NO₂ and O₃ exposure above the WHO guidelines were 253,000, 52,000, and 22,000, respectively, in 2021. See Table 8.1, Table 8.2 and Figure 8.1.

Please be advised that the figures quoted by the EEA are relevant only to ambient air and do not include indoor (household) air that is covered in other, sometimes more region wide figures.

The EPA monitors two types of particulate matter (PM) and compares levels to limit values in the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive and WHO guidelines. 

These are:

• PM₁₀ means that the particulate matter is 10 microns or less in diameter
• PM₅ signifies that it is particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter
• Both nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) gases are pollutants that are emitted in ambient air when petrol or diesel is burned in internal combustion engines
• NO₂ is more important from an ambient air quality perspective due to its increased impact on health
• Ground level ozone (O₃) is a pollutant formed in urban areas by car exhaust emissions undergoing chemical reactions in sunny weather. Normally ozone is a transboundary pollution in Ireland, carried in an air mass across the sea from mainland Europe  

EC Zero Pollution Action Plan

The European Commission Zero Pollution Action Plan sets a target to reduce the health impacts of air pollution (estimated by the number of premature deaths attributable to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5)) by at least 55% by 2030, compared to those in 2005. Between 2005 and 2021, the number of premature deaths in the EU attributable to PM_2.5 fell by 41%. Extrapolating the progress observed over the past ten years shows that the target will be overreached at the EU level. The European Commission also projected that the target will be overreached if the EU policies on air, climate and energy are adequately implemented. Despite the ongoing improvement, in 2021 the premature deaths attributable to PM_2.5 were 253,000 in the EU. 

SDG 3.9.2 Mortality Rate Attributed to Unsafe Water, Unsafe Sanitation and Lack of Hygiene (Exposure to Unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)

SDG 3.9.2 Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services) is published by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Definition

The SDG indicators metadata repository provides the following definition in the SDG 3.9.2 metadata document:

The mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services) as defined as the number of deaths from unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe WASH services) in a year, divided by the population, and multiplied by 100,000.

CSO, Vital Statistics

There is no national data published for this indicator.

Cholera and typhoid are two diseases associated with unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. In 2021 there were no reported deaths due to cholera and typhoid in Ireland according to CSO's Vital Statistics.

SDG 3.9.3 Mortality Rate Attributed to Unintentional Poisoning

SDG 3.9.3 Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning is published by CSO, Vital Statistics section.

Definition

The SDG indicators metadata repository provides the following definition in the SDG 3.9.3 metadata document:

The mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning as defined as the number of deaths of unintentional poisonings in a year, divided by the population, and multiplied by 100,000.

CSO - Vital Statistics

According to CSO, Vital Statistics there were 245 deaths from unintentional poisoning in 2023, a decrease from 291 deaths in 2022. In 2023, twice as many males died from poisoning than females, 165 and 80 respectively.

The highest number of male deaths were in the 35-44 years age group with 47 deaths, whilst for females the 45-54 years and 55-64 years age groups both had 18 deaths. See Table 8.3.

Deaths attributed to unintentional poisoning by poisoning type and gender for 2019-2021 in shown in Table 8.4.