Air pollution in Malta has been exceeding limits specified by the EU's Air Quality Framework Directive, according to a report by the Infrastructure Ministry.
The report focused on three pollutants: benzene, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. It is based on data collected throughout various localities since Malta's entry into the EU right up to 2008.
Nitrogen dioxide, emitted by both petrol and diesel vehicles, increased in concentration between 2004 and 2007 and there are indications that this is due to an increased number of vehicles. Benzene, a carcinogenic substance emitted from petrol-powered cars, exceeded acceptable levels in Sliema, Floriana, Birkirkara and Ħamrun, where traffic measures are being proposed in order to cut pollution levels at certain times. St Anne's Street, in Floriana recorded a spike in benzene levels throughout the festive season owing to the increase in traffic towards Valletta for Christmas shopping.
Other excesses were recorded in particulate matter emissions, which are largely caused by diesel-powered cars. The biggest pollution levels were recorded at the Msida air monitoring station, with the daily limit value being exceeded 56 times last year, 21 times more than the allowed value of 35. The report makes various proposals to address the situation, ranging from straightforward measures such as reducing vehicle emissions by regulating exhaust from polluting vehicles, enforcing fuel quality control and fiscal incentives for vehicles with cleaner technologies to less obvious changes such as having temporary lane conversion where a direction variable lane would become an additional lane in the direction of heavy traffic flow.
It also recommended the promotion of car pooling and sharing, an increase in the bus fare on routes where pollution thresholds were being exceeded, a certification exercise for all roadworthy test stations and spot checks and the improvement of alternative modes of transport such as ferries, electric cabs and taxis. Moreover, it suggested shifting road works and waste collection to off-peak hours, the modification of the existing government car fleet, encouraging tele-working and e-commerce to reduce congestion and an adjustment of school times, again to ease congestion.
The document emphasises the fact that such measures hinge on a radical public transport reform, which should come to fruition in 2010, acknowledging that people would not be willing to forsake the use of their personal vehicle unless an efficient public transport system were in place.
The report, which is open for public consultation, is available at www.mitc.gov.mt.