Motorists driving down Addolorata Hill in the morning rush-hour traffic cannot miss the greyish, orange cloud hanging over the Marsa-Qormi conurbation in what is a constant reminder of the impact of car pollution.

Air quality has increasingly become a subject of interest for many people, especially since EU membership almost six years ago. But with the debate over power station emissions eclipsing everything else, few realise that cars are perhaps the most significant polluters.

The most recent warning was delivered by the EU Commission, which threatened Malta with infringement proceedings unless it drew up an air quality plan to address, among other things, the pollution in the inner harbour region, which exceeds EU levels.

The head of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's Environment Directorate, Martin Seychell admits air quality levels in the central region are in breach of EU directives and he blames traffic for the problem.

Readings from Mepa's air quality monitoring stations do not paint an ugly picture, he adds, but there are specific problems that have to be addressed.

"The general state of air quality does not dishearten me," Mr Seychell says from his Mepa office, which sits on top of the bastion just off Floriana's main thoroughfare, St Anne Street, which he describes as a "hot spot". He says it was only the monitoring station in the central region, stationed at Msida, that recorded excessive levels of fine dust known as PM10, according to latest data taken in 2008.

PM10 is so fine it is more akin to smoke and is considered to be a health hazard because it has the potential of lodging in people's lungs. It is unrelated to visible dust or that created by construction work, which is larger in size and settles down more quickly.

According to EU regulations, the directive on air quality would be infringed if the allowed limit is exceeded more than 35 times a year. In Msida the limit was exceeded 50 times.

"Msida is a traffic node and it reflects the general situation in other localities in the inner harbour area," Mr Seychell says.

Levels of fine dust mimic traffic trends, he adds, and the situation is bound to worsen if cars are used more and more.

Mepa carried out a deeper analysis of the fine dust since it can be caused by man-made actions and natural phenomena.

He explains: "Combustion, whether in a power station, a bakery or a car, creates fine dust but naturally ocurring saltspray and fine Sahara dust blown here by the wind are also causes of PM10 particles."

The analysis showed that on a number of occasions when the level of fine dust in Msida was above the EU limit, the same was recorded in far-flung Għarb in Gozo. This led analysts to pin down part of the problem to naturally occuring phenomena, especially when the data was cross-checked with prevailing wind conditions.

"When natural phenomena were excluded from the Msida recordings it transpired that levels were exceeded 31 times a year. Although this is below the limit it is too close for comfort and requires action," Mr Seychell says.

The analysis meant Mepa delayed passing on the relevant air quality information to the EU Commission, something which Brussels criticised.

The data has just been passed on to the Commission, along with an air quality plan, five months after they were due.

Identifying the problem, however, is only one aspect, he adds; providing solutions is the more important part.

He admits it is not an easy challenge because people have to realise the problem is caused by the cars they use.

A number of factors contribute to the problem: Malta has the highest rate of car ownership; it is a congested place; a lot of newly purchased cars are second hand and, therefore, have old technology; the average lifespan of a car is around 10 years or more, and so the roads are home to an ageing fleet; people renege on regular maintenance; and the island's topography and small size lead to a lot of start and stop driving, which means engines are consistently working in high power and polluting more.

However, Mr Seychell believes the biggest problem is cultural since the car has become for many a symbol of sorts, whether of independence, wealth or status.

"People are driving more kilometres per year. It is linked to lifetsyle choices. We are living in one place and working in another. The children go to school in a different locality. The more people shift from one place to another the more the problems are bound to increase."

Hope rests with the public transport reform, which Mr Seychell insists should also take into account population shifts.

There are few reasons why students should go to University by car, he says, pointing out that the large student population and the Mater Dei hospital next door provide an ideal location for a major public transport node.

However, there are also simple measures that can be taken.

"It does not make sense that to obtain a passport the individual has to enter Valletta twice. In this sense local councils should be used more often as interfaces for clients of government services."

If the transport issue is solved, he adds, Malta will have better air quality all around.

It is a big "if", one that is conditioned by choices people would have to make but Mr Seychell lives by the old adage: Hope springs eternal.