Air pollution can have a significant impact on human health. If you are unhappy with the air quality in your area contact your local council.

In Northern Ireland, air quality is unlikely to cause any serious short-term health effects to most people. However, older people or people with heart or lung disease are at greater risk of increased health problems due to air pollution. 

Most of the problems around air pollution are centred on smoke from household fires. Your local council may have a smoke control programme. This means that you will not be allowed to burn smokey fuels, such as ordinary coal or slack.  You will only be allowed to burn authorised fuels, which produce less smoke than traditional fuels when burned.

Industrial and commercial users are also required to ensure that they do not emit excessive smoke from their chimneys.

You can find out more about air quality in Northern Ireland by visiting the Northern Ireland Air website.  Contact the Environmental Health Department of your local council if you wish to complain about air quality in your area.