Editorial

A front-page article in The Sunday Times in August 2008 should have disturbed even the most cynical of readers. A number of large vehicles were reported to be running on a hazardous cocktail of light heating oil (LHO) and diesel to cut down on fuel costs. The government was said to be "monitoring" the situation.

LHO is even more hazardous than the diesel/kerosene mixture associated with large vehicles.

Nobody knows if LHO is still being used today. But what is certain is that the air we breathe is foul - you do not need to be a scientist to realise that. It is enough to travel overseas to realise black fumes are not meant to tail any vehicles.

More than a year on, our streets remain clogged with vehicle emissions. It is synonymous with a country where the rule of law often takes years, sometimes decades, to come into effect.

It is incomprehensible that buses and trucks continue belching black smoke with impunity when scientific evidence clearly shows it is a serious health hazard.

The British Medical Journal of June 22 cited updated studies to show that long-term exposure to air pollution decreases life expectancy. The sooty particles emitted by internal combustion engines, especially diesel engines, are toxic and extremely dangerous to health, it noted. The highly polluting black smoke emitted by buses and other vehicles triggers asthma, and results in defective lung development in children.

A recent public consultation exercise conducted by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority showed that heavy vehicle emissions top the list of concerns where air pollution is concerned. The authorities' silence was almost deafening.

Instead, we recently heard Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas saying Malta intends to request exemption from EU rules on air quality and PM10 particulate traffic pollution until mid-2011.

Although the island was originally meant to comply with EU regulations for PM10 emissions by 2005, the established levels were not reached. Data for 2005 showed EU air quality limits were being exceeded around Malta during a good chunk of the year. These missed targets should infuriate any citizen concerned about health.

Last week, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar rightly described as "irresponsible" the government's neglect to act and protect the health of the nation.

The worrying levels of pollution, detected by air quality monitoring, is a measure of the indifference of the transport, environment and health authorities. FAA health spokesman George Debono went one step further and said we should hold them responsible when Malta starts seeing an increase in pollution-related illnesses.

For too long we have been hearing that the buses' exhaust issue could be resolved when the transport sector is restructured, but you cannot blame a sceptical public believing this is another vain promise.

Have there been any reports of impounded buses or hefty fines? Has anybody been marched to court accused of tampering with his vehicle's fuel?

The least that can be done is to immediately deal with polluting vehicles on the spot. Let's face it - the emissions are blatant and clearly visible.

When five years ago, the Malta Transport Authority introduced the SMS alert system, many heaved a sigh of relief. But we soon realised the initiative was cosmetic and ineffective, and many lost faith in it. The ADT says it is still carrying out roadside testing but we have yet to see any concrete results.

When smoking in enclosed public spaces was outlawed (at least on paper), many were pleasantly surprised. So why are the authorities so reluctant to follow suit and stub out traffic pollution when the battle should be easier?

The chorus of concern will persist until the government finally realises that lack of political will and weak enforcement are driving many to respiratory complications.