Air is a mixture of gases.  A typical sample would contain about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.04% carbon dioxide, 0.9% argon and traces of water vapour and other components.

AIR QUALITY IN IRELAND

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Ireland considers the overall air quality in Ireland to be good. The EPA has identified emissions of pollutants from road traffic are one of the main threats to air quality and the ability of Ireland to meet its commitments under the National Emissions Ceiling (NEC) Directive by 2010.

Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases can have an impact on the climate change. The main air emission pollutants are sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia.

AIR QUALITY AND AGRICULTURE

Almost all of the ammonia (NH3) emissions produced in Ireland comes from Agriculture.  Over 90% comes from animal manure, with the majority of the remainder coming from chemical fertilizer.  The EPA reports that approximately 17% of the nitrogen in animal wastes and 4% of nitrogen contained in chemical fertilisers is lost to the atmosphere as ammonia.
The NEC Directive has set a target emission levels for NH3 of 116 kt by 2010.  In 2005 NH3 emission levels were 113kt. Irish farmers are already compliant with this target 5 years ahead of the requirement.

Trends in Ammonia (NH3) Emissions in Ireland

Agriculture combined with forestry, road transport, railways and international aviation are responsible for less than 5% of the total annual sulphur dioxide emissions in Ireland.
Agriculture and forestry account for approximately 5% of the annual nitrogen oxides emissions in Ireland.
The main sources of volatile organic compounds emitted in Ireland are transport and solvent use, with emissions from agriculture not considered significant.