Breathing quality air

Crowded little islands with power plants and high car usage do need watching. Air moves around. The air we breathe is better than one would expect, given the pressures it is subjected to. Although emissions of some pollutants are high, our island breezes help disperse them. Emissions from passing ships and cruise liners, equal to hundreds of car engines, can blow ashore. We cannot take a relaxed view to air pollution.

At an information seminar on air quality earlier this month participants heard how emissions from various sources disperse in the atmosphere, determining the ambient concentration levels. Natural events such as desert dust blown here from Sahara can add to particulates suspended in our air from human activities.

Nadine Axisa from the air quality team within MEPA's Pollution Prevention and Control Unit (PPCU) explained that the unit aims to identify more precisely the origins of dust in a first step toward reducing often high levels of particulate suspension in our air. Grains of particulate matter are not only respiratory irritants but can carry other pollutants into the lungs.

The smaller particulates (PM 2.5) are more harmful than the particles of ten micron size (PM 10). By comparison a human hair is 70 microns in diameter. Pollen in the air, quarrying, construction and refurbishment of buildings all produce PM 10 airborne particles. Power station emissions and diesel from small engines are mostly responsible for the PM 2.5 particles suspended in our air.

This past summer the PPCU had to abandon inspections of dust generated by construction sites on all but the largest of projects "to devote resources to other high priority sites." Such complaints have been handed over to the police. For the immediate future the MEPA unit concerned with air quality will be dedicating all its efforts to controlling major industries, power plants and other sources which emit air pollution while the Health Division will concentrate on health-related complaints.

Difficulties are faced by monitoring bodies when trying to collect data on fuel used in hotel boilers. A number of operators who choose cheaper polluting fuels, not so well adapted to the boiler type, are often reluctant to give away such information to the authorities.

Measurements taken at Floriana - where traffic is high, and at Corradino - where apart, from other sources, dockyard activity and the Marsa power station affect air quality, have shown high levels of particulates which are frequently present in both areas in quantities which exceed the daily limit value for protection of human health. The number of times PM 10 limits can be permissibly exceeded in a year is not more than 35 times annually. Both stations recorded a much higher number of exceedances in less than a year in 2005.

Very soon all industrial permits will require an environmental permit with binding air quality and other conditions. Major new industries applying for a permit issued by MEPA are already controlled in this way.

Health effects

We may be able to cut down on our exposure to other pollutants but we cannot cut down our consumption of air. Short-term effects of air pollution range from eye and throat problems to bronchitis and pneumonia. Long-term problems include permanent damage to the lungs, cardio-respiratory disease and cardio-vascular disease.

Europe requires an air quality monitoring station for each area of 250,000 people. By this standard two air monitoring stations would be enough for Malta. To further protect human health in view of our high population density five air monitoring stations are to be installed.

Now that all countries in Europe have to use the same methods for monitoring air pollution MEPA has commissioned four fixed air monitoring stations with equipment up to EU standards. EU structural funds helped to set up two fixed air monitoring stations. Keeping them functioning will be costly, as the running cost of the analysers does not come cheap.

The Msida station measures pollution from road traffic. Catalytic converters help reduce polluting gases from vehicles on longer trips but are less effective for short trips. Rows of tall buildings forming "street canyons" contribute to the build up of pollutants in the air when foul air from traffic is trapped and less easily dispersed.

Another fixed station will gauge air quality near St Catherine's home for the elderly in Attard. A station fixed in a public garden at Zejtun is taking readings for six pollutants while recording how ozone can form in suburban areas. Produced by chemical reaction of sunlight with pollutants in the air, ozone can often be found downwind of the actual source, such as a busy urban areas.

Dr Karen Vincenti from the Ministry of Health, Elderly and Community Care, described the effects of ozone on humans as "sunburn of the lung". Internal peeling and scarring make oxygen exchange difficult. Recently issued WHO guidelines recommend an even lower daily limit for ozone, reduced from 120 down to 100 micrograms per cubic metre.

The offices of the Pollution Prevention and Control Unit are located in an area where the effects of the Marsa power station plume are expected to be highest, at Corradino. In addition to other pollutants, the monitoring station at this site is measuring the three main pollutants associated with industry - nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and particulates (PM10).

Early next year a station to measure background levels for the six pollutants will be set up in Gozo. The island is thought to be blessed with cleaner air but can be prone to incidents of oil refinery pollution floating over on air currents from Sicily.

Each of the pollutants measured has an annual limit value for humans and a lower limit of tolerance for vegetation (flora). That we are observing the negative effect of air pollution on plants as well as on human health seems a huge step forward. Buildings and monuments are also damaged by acids from air pollution.

Dr Michael Nolle from MEPA explained that Enemalta's switch to low-sulphur fuel in April 2004 has been reflected in air quality measurements which showed that sulphur dioxide levels in ambient air have fallen to safer levels. Louis Vella, head of MEPA's Pollution Prevention and Control Unit, points out that ocean-going ships still use high-sulphur fuel and Malta is exposed to their emissions.

Both adults and children exercising in outdoor polluted air are vulnerable. Children breathe faster and take in more air compared to body weight making their exposure to airborne pollutants higher than adults. Children in pushchairs take in air closer to the level of exhaust pipes on passing vehicles making exposure to pollutants more concentrated than an adult dose.

A Gozo monitoring station is expected to be in operation early next year measuring pollutants in trace levels: nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, lead, benzene, volatile organic compounds and particulates to establish background levels generally upwind of local sources of pollution. MEPA also plans to analyse for heavy metals and natural sources in dust at this background location.

Air quality has an impact on tourism too. MEPA received an inquiry from an asthmatic tourist who wished to visit Malta but was always worried about high ozone levels bringing on an asthma attack and ruining his holiday. "This year we were able to assure them with our data," the PPCU head claims.

Future aims of the unit include helping policy-makers locate sites sensitive to air pollution such as schools. Rerouting of traffic and better traffic management systems to reduce pollution for citizens are on the cards.

EU consultant Remy Bouscaren described some personal actions to minimise air pollution. He pointed out that emissions from chemicals and materials found inside the home were not high yet exposure to them was long term. Most pollutants come from combustion so air quality would improve if people save everything and do not waste anything.

The National Emissions Ceilings directive caps Malta's national emissions for four pollutants: nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and non-methane volatile organic compounds. These ceilings cannot be exceeded in 2010. For example, nitrogen oxides are capped at eight tonnes. An emissions inventory and projections are essential to tell us how close we are to that ceiling. Operators of large facilities, such as incinerators, will have to submit monitoring data to an emissions inventory and abide by PPCU permit conditions while self-monitoring for air pollution.

Although emissions from incinerators at Boffa Hospital and the Gozo abattoir have improved, the sub-standard incinerator at St Luke's Hospital is still an air pollution hazard.

The increasing number of complaints received over smoke from fireplaces has highlighted this as a source of domestic air pollution which will need regulating. At present there is no continuous monitoring of emissions from chimney stacks. Calculations are based on data which are sometimes difficult to obtain. Heights for fireplace chimneys have been agreed upon by MEPA and the Health Department. Planning guidelines prescribe chimney heights although these are not always enforced.

Senior Environment Protection inspector Margaret Azzopardi explained that agricultural incineration has been noted as a problem where farmers sometimes burn black plastic related to farming use releasing toxins into the air. An initiative by farmers in Mgarr has led to the local collection of agricultural plastic for recycling instead of burning.

Out-of-date laws

A staff of four people at the Environmental Health Unit are restricted by antiquated laws and inefficient systems when dealing with complaints of air pollution. The Clean Air Act of 1967 refers to "dark smoke" but no guidelines exist to regulate bakeries and other furnaces operating at night. The Clean Air Board enabled in this law has not been appointed for the past two years. A new Public Health Act is long overdue for setting regulations relevant to today's needs.

All complaints received by EHU are investigated. The unit has regional offices in Zebbug, Paola, Hamrun, Sliema and St Paul's Bay. Regional Health Officers are the first to visit the site of a complaint. If they find problems and need backup they contact EHU and conduct a joint inspection, sometimes calling PPCU on site if there are big problems.

"In the absence of appropriate legislation we try to give recommendations for improvement. Sometimes these are accepted - sometimes not. We can only take action on available legislation." explains Principal Health Inspector Charles Bonnici.

In 2005 a Clean Air Consultative Group including representatives from Public Health, PPCU, Federation of Industries, Chamber of Engineers and Malta Transport Authority was set up to draft new regulations and set a proper legal framework for control of dust, domestic sources of air pollution and a high nuisance factor complaint - odours from catering establishments.

The experience of spreading comprehensible, transparent information on air quality to the public was shared by Alain Target of ASPA, the surveillance body for air pollution in the Alsace region. Ozone reduction plans in the Alsace region of France include increasing the frequency and reducing the cost of public transport. This is considered to be justified by a reduction in public health costs.

Before this could work in Malta the smoke emitted by public transport buses must be abolished. Unless buses clean up their act, future pollution prevention measure could include cutting down on the use of buses as well as alternating cars with odd and even number plates using the road on different days.

The Malta Transport Authority is to implement the vehicle road-worthiness test (VRT). This is the first year that the full range of tests is being done on newer cars but older vehicles are still being tested using standards in force at the time they were licensed. Heavy vehicles such as buses continue to be a problem. Cars converted from petrol to diesel should be subject to pre-conversion emission levels.

PPCU director Louis Vella advised that complaints of dust pollution should be reported to MEPA (PPCU - 2167-8034) so that the matter could be handed over to the police, the only authority with legal powers to enforce legal notice LN 01/06. Illegal burning or incineration could be reported on 9921-9991 from 6 a.m. to11 p.m.

The well attended information seminar aimed at improving air quality in the Maltese Islands was funded by the EU Transitional Facility Programme 2004.

Breathing in the street

NOx - Nitrous oxide emissions have acute health effects with irreversible damage to the lung. Even small amounts mixed with carbon dioxide can cause high ozone levels downwind of the source.

SO2 - Sulphur dioxide attacks the lungs, making people more susceptible to infections.

CO - Carbon monoxide can cause symptoms similar to common illness that might go unnoticed. Headache or nausea after exposure to fumes in closed spaces in garages or car parks could indicate the presence of this gas. Unborn children, infants and people with chronic heart disease or anaemia are most vulnerable.

Pb - Lead can cause poisoning and death at high concentrations. Even at low levels children are very vulnerable to its effects on the brain. A lower IQ has been traced to lead in the blood.

C6H6 - Benzene causes cancer by suppressing bone marrow resulting in leukaemia and lymphoma. There are no safe levels for benzene, a carcinogen found in both cigarette smoke and car exhaust. After the 2004 introduction of lead replacement petrol benzene levels in Malta shifted from "very bad' to "much improved." While the current levels are down to a satisfactory level there is no threshold for carcinogens. While any concentration can be considered harmful a human limit of five microgrammes per cubic metre has been set by the EU and WHO.

PM 10, PM 2.5 Pariculate Matter can ultimately bring on premature aging of lungs and emphysema. Fine particles (dust, soot, pollen) damage cleansing hairs and membranes which normally protect the lungs and macrophage cells which eliminate pollutants, are destroyed.

O3 - Ozone Helpful at higher levels as the planet's protective net shielding the sun's ultraviolet rays, ozone is harmful to human health at ground level, increasing the incidence of asthma attacks and making respiratory and heart disease worse.

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