Project title: Pollution Prosecutors

Team: Pollution Prosecutors

Bishop McEgan College   Macroom   Ireland   11 Student’s age: 16-17 years old

Will the Macroom bypass effect air quality and climate change?​

The town of Macroom is bottlenecked with traffic, increasing the idling time of vehicles which increases the level of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide), thereby affecting air quality.
We aimed to measure the impact on air quality and measure its significance from a global warming point of view,
before and after the opening of the Macroom By-Pass.
Our hypothesis: The opening of the Macroom bypass will improve air quality and have a positive effect on climate change, as it will reduce the number of vehicles passing through the town.

Data Collection before and after the opening of the town bypass included:
1. Primary data from counting the number and type of vehicles passing through the town and secondary data from Cork Country Council to validate our data. These results were compared and graphed
2. Secondary Particulate matter readings (PM 10 and PM 2.5) from the EPA Air Quality station in Macroom before and after the opening, were compared and graphed to show any changes.
3. Primary Particulate matter data was collected from five different locations within the town, using the ‘white tile experiment’ before and after which were compared through observation.
4. AQP (Air Quality Platform) collected primary data measuring carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide on a weekday at the same time of day before and after and were compared and graphed This provided evidence that the particulate matter reduced in the town.
5. Pictures of the lichen in the town were taken and a lichen identification key was used as primary data to identify and link the type of lichen to the type of air pollution in the area before and after.
6. A Decibel monitor collected primary noise level data before and after the opening of the bypass on the same weekday and time of day and compared them on the decibel scale.

Results:
Within Macroom town, the air quality data collected from the AQP ( Air Quality Platform) showed a reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gas in the air after the bypass opened.
The noise pollution measured using our decibel app showed that the noise pollution also reduced.
The type of lichens growing in the area changed which we used as a bioindicator of the improvement in air quality after the Macroom bypass opened. This is linked to the reduced volume of traffic throughout the town.
The particulate matter from our white tile experiment gave us a visual to observe the particulate matter in the town. The tiles before the bypass had more matter on it compared to the tiles after the opening of the bypass. This was also compared to the data collected from the EPA which we graphed to show the change. This provided evidence that the particulate matter was reduced in the town also. However, PM does not stay in one area it gets blown by the wind to the surrounding area and further

The traffic count conducted by us and compared to the county council data shows that the volume of traffic moving through the town reduced which is linked to the reduced noise levels and reduced carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gas levels monitored.

From completing our research we conclude that the opening of the Macroom bypass has reduced the number of vehicles passing through the town, thereby improving air quality in the town, as the level of greenhouse gases has been reduced, which has a positive effect on climate change.

Although the Macroom bypass has reduced the number of vehicles passing through the town and the idling time of vehicles, all vehicles are now bypassing the town and the issue of air pollution has moved to an area outside of the town.
The real solution to the air quality is the development of cycle lanes in and around the town. This will support the local community in moving away from motorised vehicles to traveling by bicycle. We have brought this issue and suggestion to the attention of our local councilor. Furthermore, the public transport system in the town of Macroom needs to be developed, by improving the existing bus service and reopening the old train line.

Other actions that may raise awareness of greenhouse gases at a local level include the development of an app that monitors carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide.
If more particulate matter filters are made available to households free of charge and inputted into the exhaust of cars to reduce the PM volumes in the air.

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