Study links high asthma in Fgura to main road

The high prevalence of asthma cases in Fgura is strictly related to the vicinity of the locality's main traffic artery and not to the power station, according to a study commissioned by the local council.

On the other hand the cases of another respiratory disorder, allergic rhinitis, is more likely to be related to the larger-sized particulate matter spouting from the Marsa power station, the study concluded.

The study was carried out by Dr Martin Balzan and Dr Jason Bonnici and was based on the results of the European Community Respiratory Health survey held in Fgura and Zejtun in 2001.

The aim of this follow-up study was to determine the distribution of cases in Fgura in relation to two well-known sources of atmospheric pollution, namely the power station and the main traffic thoroughfare, the Zabbar-Hompesch Road.

The doctors worked to analyse the data of the 2001 report exclusive of smokers and used a global positioning system provided by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The GPS points were fed into a computerised database so that every individual who answered the questionnaire could be accurately placed on a grid and the distribution of the disease in the territory could be mapped.

The results were launched yesterday by council mayor Anthony De Giovanni, while Dr Balzan explained the outcome of the study.

It was concluded that the elimination of smokers from the data had no effect on the data collated in 2001. The number of sufferers in the two villages remained consistent.

Dr Balzan said the worst hit area was the surrounding zone of between Bulebel and Zabbar road - and the local state school was bang in this area.

In the report the doctors recommended that this area should be a priority and air monitoring systems should be set up. Ways of reducing traffic in the area during school hours also had to be established.

Each year in Malta there are 450 asthma sufferers who are admitted to hospital and Dr Balzan said these were the tip of the iceberg since the majority of those who had this problem were rarely bad enough to be hospitalised.

Dr Balzan insisted the in the light of the situation in Fgura there was an urgent need to fix monitoring stations in the locality.

Unfortunately, two years had passed from the 2001 study and despite the recommendations these had not yet been set in place.

A recent survey commissioned by Mepa included Fgura as one of the seven localities in Malta and Gozo which did not measure up to EU standards of high airborne lead content.

Dr Balzan once again emphasised the need to reduce the traffic through Zabbar Road by deviating it to the periphery of inhabited areas.

"It simply does not make sense to have major traffic arteries pass through village cores. Indeed, the presence of many traffic lights and zebra crossings is making the pollution worse by slowing down the transit time of traffic - these should be reduced to a minimum," Dr Balzan said.

The two doctors also said it was important that VRT tests include an emissions test for vehicles.

"It must be pointed out that an old car which is well maintained makes less pollution than a new car in a poor state of maintenance," Dr Balzan said.