Monitoring not detecting pollution

The response from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (July 10) to the comments on air quality made by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth and the Ramblers' Association is worrying because it raises the question as to what is being given priority: peoples' health or conforming to EU requirements.

It can only be repeated, in the first place, that there is overwhelming evidence that particle-laden smoke emitted by buses and heavy transport vehicles can be expected to result in premature deaths mostly from lung and heart disease and increased cancer rates in years to come among those who are now exposed to such pollution. Children growing up in traffic-polluted environments will sustain permanent lung damage and be subject to increased rates of asthma attacks, as shown by the rates of hospitalisation for asthma in Fgura, the highest in the world. All the foregoing is supported by extensive scientific studies, such as that by the American Cancer Society and the Harvard Six Cities Study.

These findings were endorsed by influential bodies including the UK Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP), the American Heart Association and, not least, by the World Health Association. There is also irrefutable evidence that particulate concentrations are higher in homes on high-traffic-intensity streets and that cancer and premature mortality rates are greater in people who reside in traffic-congested areas.

Irrespective of what our air monitoring stations indicate, there is no question that a large proportion of Malta's population is regularly exposed to a serious degree of pollution. Everything points to pollution at street level from one major source: buses, heavy transport vehicles and diesel-driven private cars. Most of these, but especially buses, emit dense black smoke which is known to be toxic. This pollution is very heavy in many densely built-up areas. In narrow streets, the pollution is emitted dangerously near to pedestrians and children. Such pollution is both illegal and preventable, yet nothing happens.

It is all very well for Mepa to say that, according to approved methodology, it can be concluded that of the 52 observed instances of excess ambient particulate concentration, 16 were caused by dust from the Sahara Desert and six by aerosol sea spray. What everybody can see in our streets in traffic-congested areas tells another story.

It is astounding how our air monitoring stations do not pick up the immense volume of particulates that must be present in the thick black smoke emitted by virtually every bus and heavy transport vehicle and a good proportion of private diesel-driven cars. Something must be wrong somewhere. Owing to some factor, probably related to the peculiar circumstances in Malta or inappropriate siting of the monitoring stations, air quality monitoring is failing to give a true picture.

Mepa's claim that much of the particulates detected by the monitoring stations is due to "natural causes" is difficult to reconcile with findings recorded by the monitoring station in Floriana, where enormously high peak concentrations of fine particulates (up to 300 μ/m³) were previously observed during morning rush-hour periods. This proves that these particulates originated from traffic and not from sea spray and Sahara dust.

Then there is the raised incidence of asthma in Malta as shown by the rates of hospitalisation for asthma in Fgura, which were the highest in the world. This, too, is indicative of something wrong.

Unfortunately, the government's solution to every problem, perceived or otherwise, is always a report, in this instance the Air Quality Plan. But why does there have to be a report to take urgently-needed action against blatant flouting of the law by buses and heavy transport vehicles in our roads? As long as nothing is done, it can only be concluded that, regardless of the serious health impact of the visible pollution in our streets, the government is satisfied with the situation so long as the air monitoring stations continue to provide results that paint a rosy picture and please the EU. That peoples' health gets undermined is of no consequence.