Particles in the air: It's not all our fault, Malta tells the EU

The European Commission has accepted Malta’s arguments on air quality after the government, with the aid of EU-suggested methodology that included satellite pictures, proved that in many cases, Malta failed EU air quality thresholds because of natural causes.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said in reply to a parliamentary question that the permissible limit of PM10 (particulate matter) as measures at the Msida fixed monitoring station had been exceeded 52 times, when the EU directive allowed only 35 such exceedances a year.

Malta had applied to the Commission for an extension of the time to reach conformity with the determined level. This had led to an Air Quality Plan, issued this January.

Through research using methodology suggested by the EC itself, including satellite pictures, background trajectory modelling, chemical speciation and PM10 to PM2.5 ratios, Malta had proved that 16 of the 52 exceedances were attributable to dust from the Sahara Desert. Six of the remaining 36 exceedances were attributable to aerosol coming in over the sea.

The European Commission had accepted Malta's arguments that 22 of the 52 exceedances reported were attributable to natural sources, Dr Gonzi said. There was therefore no need for the application.

Nonetheless, Dr Gonzi pledged, Malta remained committed to implementing the Air Quality Plan.