One World - An Indication on the State of our Environment (08)

Do particulate matter concentrations meet EU air quality standards?

Particulate matter (PM10) consists of dust particles that are generally less than 10 millionths of a metre in diameter. They originate mainly from industrial processes such as fuel-burning in power stations and industrial plants as well as direct emissions from activities such as quarrying and sanding.

Transport is another major source of particulates that arise from exhaust emissions. Natural sources of PM are sea spray and wind blown dust (long-range transported dust from the Sahara), which could at times contribute to a significant amount of the total particulate matter fraction. PM10 concentrations in 2006 were measured at the Floriana, Kordin, Msida and Żejtun[1] real-time air quality monitoring stations, and a record was kept of the number of times the EU threshold, of 50 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3), was exceeded. In 2006 all stations except for Żejtun exceeded the EU limit on more than the permitted 35 times per year (10 per cent of days measured).[2] During 2006, Malta's highest particulate concentration, of 136.4 ug/m3, was recorded at the Kordin station, followed by a concentration of 120.5 ug/m3 in Floriana.

Source: Mepa

Environmental tip: Reduce your contribution to the creation of toxic particle matter by: using your car less (walk or bicycle instead); driving slowly, keeping your vehicle's engine in good condition; keeping your car tyre pressure correct; using diesel cars with exhaust filters; reducing your use of electricity; reducing creation of dust from building/sanding buy using shades; covering skips; not discarding building waste from heights; and avoiding open fires (burning of agricultural waste).

[1] Measurements at Żejtun and Msida began in July 2006.

[2] This statement is related to a whole year's measurement and using no correction factor.