'Black dust' different from fly ash
Mepa said today that it is continuing to collect samples of black dust from localities in the south of Malta for analysis, but recent studies showed that the dust recovered from Fgura had different properties from fly ash produced by the power stations.
The samples started being collected in August, but not enough dust has been collected so far to make an analysis feasible and secure.
The authority was reacting to complaints about the presence of the dust, thought to be soot, in various localities. The Opposition this morning called on the government to assume its political responsibilities for the problem, which has existed for years.
Enemalta said the dust could originate from various sources, not necessarily its power stations (see separate stories)
Mepa said a number of samplers were installed in August in agreement with the Fgura council but, to date, due to the intensity of the problem having decreased and following a spate of bad weather very little black dust was collected.
The authority said it wanted to collected the samples using a standard methodology, since the samples given to it by residents were heavily contaminated with dust (from construction), organic matter, matter of insect origin and other detritus.
This is the latest attempt by the authority to discover the source of the dust.
In an ‘initial analysis report on coarse dust in Fgura’ published by the authority last year following a number of complaints from residents in the area in 2007, initial analysis concluded that the black dust, was composed mostly of larger sized particles with diameters larger than 10 micrometres. Larger dust particles were capable of settling down a short time after being emitted, and a short distance away from the source.
Environment director Martin Seychell said that ‘The Stacey Report’, commissioned in 1999 by the Ministry for the Environment, had shed some light on the problem but failed to compare the particles in Fgura to the fly ash emitted by the power station.
The report assumed that once the Fgura “fall out” samples were “similar in appearance to fly ash commonly emitted by power stations” and since trace amounts of vanadium and nickel were detected in these samples, the Marsa Power Station was indicated as the possible source.
In 2007, the authority decided to carry out its own investigation and used The Stacey report as a starting point. It decided on a fresh set of analyses given that the electrostatic precipitators - to reduce dust, were installed in three out of six boilers in early 2000 and that the power stations in Malta shifted to one percent S heavy fuel oil in April 2004 (in order to enable Malta to meet the obligations of the acquis).
Mepa also wanted to try to attempt a comparison between the “fall out” and “fly ash” samples.
Mepa had decided to collect samples from residentsand “fly ash” from a boiler at the Marsa Power Station, grit samples from ship maintenance activities at the Malta Shipyards and a soot sample from the engine of a heavy goods vehicle.
Laboratory tests concluded that while “fly-ash” samples taken from the Marsa Power Station featured levels of vanadium and nickel, commonly found in such plants, no trace of nickel or vanadium was detected in “fall out” samples handed over by the Fgura residents.
Mepa had no hard scientific evidence in favour of the hypothesis that the Marsa Power station was the likely source.
The authority said that recently it also sent samples of “fly ash” to a laboratory abroad for a conventional analysis using wet chemistry. This analysis showed that the average content of nickel, vanadium and magnesium in the “fly ash” from the Marsa Power Station was 8,500 mg/kg of nickel, 33,200 mg/kg of vanadium and 57,000 mg/kg of magnesium.
In parallel a sample of the “fall out” dust obtained from a private residence on the outskirts of Tarxien, which was relatively uncontaminated was also analysed by SEM/EDX at the Heritage Malta Laboratories in Bighi. However, no nickel, vanadium and magnesium were detected in this sample. The average size range of these “fall out” particles was considerably larger than the flyash sample, circa 120µm.
Besides collecting the new samples from around the locality in Fgura, the authority is mapping the complaints from Fgura to investigate the possibility of there being a localised source of pollution. MEPA is committed to ensure that the source of this ‘nuisance’ dust is identified and mitigated.
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Pule' Carmel
Oct 31st 2009, 15:16
Please check around Corradino industrial estate at Paola, and in that direction, which also includes the power station. Try and monitor the Black dust around the Cappuchini Church near Corradino and also the persistant triggering of industrial alarms and the persistent high pitched whistle during the night.
Also just look at the colour of those houses on the left of the road, with black dust, at Marsa as one leaves the berthing place of the tugboats to climb up the hill to the power station. And the black tears coming down on the face of the new main gate building going into the University. One gets an idea how clean Our Malrese air is and no one cares about the repiratory difficulties of the residents in the relevant abodes.
A.Cachia
Oct 31st 2009, 10:54
Can someone please check out the Hompesh Scrap Yard in Bulebel. I have a feeling that this may be the cause of the black dust that is constantly on our floors, roofs, cars etc.
Please may someone in the authorities check out this scrap yard to see if it omits this kind of dust whilst it is operating... since Enemalta is claiming that the dust is not from the power stations.
Christopher Debattista
Oct 30th 2009, 15:44
The explenation for the 120µm to be higher than the flyash is simple. When the Ash Leaves the power station it is faced by many factors such as the humidity, air tempreture, wind, and of course MORE POLLUTION ! Therefore it is obvious that the toxicity level to be higher. We're not dumb people. I hope that this matter is dealth duly by MEPA . Maybe IT WILL gain some trust - MAYBE
Antoine Vella
Oct 30th 2009, 10:40
Charles Flores
"Why do I get the feeling there is a white-washing exercise going on?"
Because you're always looking for something to criticise even if you have to make it up.
(It's whitewash)
R.Gauci
Oct 30th 2009, 09:18
With all the air pollution going around the Island even polluted air is being further polluted so they never will find the real reason cause there are too many sources !!
Charles Flores
Oct 30th 2009, 08:25
Why do I get the feeling there is a white-washing exercise going on?
philip pace
Oct 30th 2009, 07:01
I suggest that the Fgura Local Council should find an independent source to finalise the source of the dust.
We have independent laboratries so what the hell is the Fgura Local Council waiting for, if it has it's citizens interest and health at heart?
Can't they see that this shall take all the needed time in the world so that the Government comes clean?
Even when I lived in Sliema we used to experience similar dust in summer, but nobody spoke about it.
So FLC use your head and work this out on your own!
Paul Barrett
Oct 29th 2009, 23:51
Black soot in the mornings - so it is something going on during the night, legally or illegally.
How is bread baked - what fuel are they using.
R Abela
Oct 29th 2009, 22:30
Can MEPA kindly tell us why the data on dust collected through its monitoring station installed at Zejtun has stopped recording as from the 26th October?
All data gathered from this and the other two stations on air quality is available on line on www.mepa.org.mt for anyone interested to look at and analise.
Strangely enough in a sample I took from such data there is a strong relation between the amount of dust collected and the amount of SO2 detected (SO2 is a pollutant emitted from power stations). I also noted that in the case of Zejtun there is also a strong link with wind direction. When this is between 300 and 330 DEG dust colleciton reaches a peak.
I wonder wether MEPA has realised this!
r cutajar
Oct 29th 2009, 21:09
the powers responsabile SIMPLY does not want to reveal the source simple and shame to individuals who are absent of any form of respinsability and lacks dignity in his /their line of work Why do you All think you can take everybody for a RIDE?????
John Atkins
Oct 29th 2009, 20:53
Surely Mount Etna isn`t the culprit.
Manuel Micallef
Oct 29th 2009, 20:11
Since Maltese don't seem to have the skills necessary (or wil) to find a solution can we get a contract with a foreign firm, whereby if they find conclusive evidence of the source of this black dust then we pay them a sum of money?
you will see that that will solve the issue once and for all...
tony abela
Oct 29th 2009, 20:01
Dear Mr Martin Seychell, how convinient it is to simply ignore completely your scientific monitoring stations data you have at Zejtun, Msida, Kordin and Gharb and only refer to 'super-market' type sensors you installed at Fgura in coloboration with the local council.
One only have to look at the Data available on your website and configure a patern on a long time base, considering the wind direction, speed, humidity and other variants.
What about the SO2 data that is an element coming from fossil fuels such as used by power stations. The benzene family data is easily seen to be related with vehicular traffic as it peaks between 7am till 9am and between 4pm and 7pm on all your monitoring stations.
D. Scerri
Oct 29th 2009, 19:57
and while the studies go by, we keep on sweeping black soot every morning off our cars, houses etc.. Not even knowing the harm it's inflicting to our health (respiratory diseases, discomfort etc)
Roderick Bajada
Oct 29th 2009, 19:41
10 years collecting dust...
Is this a new Maltese hobby? a few more years and we will have a new tradition...
this is a farse, yet it's more serious than you think.
Joseph Brincat
Oct 29th 2009, 19:28
Mepa does not know what ODZ are supposed to be, how much less does it know where black dust are being produced!!!!!!!
Just a suggestion: Try to search the corridors of your minds!
S Atlamyob
Oct 29th 2009, 19:17
Nickel and vanadium are key ingredients in the make up of lubricating oils, fuel oils, particularly marine diesel, some petroleum too. The nickel's primary function is to lubricate in areas of extreme pressure, where oil alone would not function. They are vital to four-stroke engine longevity, with exception to the Coates rotary valve design.
All three soots that are describe above, are abundant in high traffic areas of Southern California, particularly beach cities such as Los Angeles.
They’re most prevalent in localities close to the ocean, where they mix with moisture ridden salt air, become dense, and can no longer be suspended by atmosphere.
The soot, assuming it's the same, kills trees/ foliage and renders’ soil sterile very quickly, so one can imagine what it does to humans and other living things.
The emission outputs of these contaminants are significantly increased as engines wear out, or require tune. Based on observations and frequency of asthma attacks, I’d say that there’s a high probability that motor vehicles, illegal burning of hazardous materials, and the power-plant are equally responsible. Why the heck do we have a fuel burning power-plant when we have all the sun and wind energy we need free?