Pollution linked to a raft of illnesses skyrocketed during a massive fire that burned for two days in Belfast, environmental readings show.
Levels of fine particulate matter called PM2.5, which has been linked to conditions including cancer and lung disease, rose from 6 micrometres per cubic meter to 88 micrometers in the space of four hours during the blaze in Belfast's docks.
Smoke has billowed through the air along the lough shore since, Belfast Live reports.
A spike in fine particulate matter called PM2.5 was measured in the air at the Holywood air pollution station along the A2.
PM2.5 is called such because it is smaller than 2.5 micrometers.
The fine particles are so small they stay in the air longer making them more likely to be breathed in.
Studies have found a close link between exposure to PM2.5 and cancer, as well as premature death from heart and lung disease.
They can also trigger chronic conditions like asthma, heart attack, bronchitis and other respiratory problems.
Measurements taken at the Holywood air pollution station also showed PM10s had reached 111um when the last reading was taken at 7um on Tuesday.
Before the fire, that reading was 5um.
The levels of both toxins in the air remained high throughout Wednesday, when PM2.5 got to 80um and PM 10, 106um.
It is unclear whether the smoke and flames impacted Newtownabbey so severely since its air pollution station appears to have been off since December 4.
Green Party MLA Rachael Woods said: "I wish to thank all those first responders who attended and were at the scene over the last few days to extinguish the fire since Tuesday.
"The fire at the plant created thick plumes of smoke that many witnessed around East Belfast and Holywood, and people were rightly advised to keep their windows closed in the local area.
"This horrible incident also brings the level of air pollution into perspective, and I am not surprised by the figures from the Holywood monitoring station showing pm2.5s and pm10s spiking over the last two days.
"These particles are some of the most dangerous for health and are a major cause of illness.
"Scientific and medical evidence are clear on the harmful effects of air pollution - respiratory disease, early death and more recently, links between dementia and miscarriages.
"Air pollution is currently costing Northern Ireland hundreds of millions to deal with, but more worryingly, it is currently costing hundreds of lives.
"Improving air quality in the longer term requires a collaborative approach form all levels of government and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs must bring forward the long-awaited Air Quality Strategy which adopts stricter legal limits, enables the creation of clean air zones and bans the sale of polluting household fuels.
"We need to take the urgent action needed to improve quality of life for all our citizens."
The Department for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs oversees the monitoring of air pollution in Northern Ireland. You can check the figures areas they monitor at https://www.airqualityni.co.uk/
They have been contacted for comment.
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