Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar maintains that MEPA columns between 14 and 19 October (One World - An Indication on the State of our Environment) are a cause for concern as references to the health hazards of pollutants (particulates and benzene) are either omitted or insufficiently explicit and recent results of air quality monitoring are down-played. 

In the case of particulates, results from air quality monitoring from 2007 are omitted. The findings are summed up by a bland statement that the concentration of air borne particles emitted by traffic “exceeded the EU limit on more than the permitted 35 times per year.”  This is being economical with the truth. No mention is made, for instance, of the extremely high peak concentrations (even up to 300 μg/m³, or 250 μg/m³ more than the EU limit) recorded in St Anne Street, Floriana, mostly during rush hour periods, clearly indicating traffic is the source. 

The findings regarding Benzene are described confusingly. The cryptic statement “no localities in Malta exceeded the EU limit value of 5μg/m³” contradicts the next comment that in “particular sites”, namely St Anne's Street in Floriana and Manuel Dimech Street, excessive levels were recorded. This was especially so in St Anne’s street where the level was 7.14μg/ m³ - well over the EU limit of 5 μg/ m³ which is not to be exceeded at any time. The frequent recording of high levels of benzene in Manuel Dimech Street in Sliema is particularly worrying in this urban core street. Such high concentrations suggest even more alarming concentrations of pollutants in the Tower Road shopping centre and Old College Street, both of which are heavily congested one-way uphill streets.  

While it is undeniable that the public’s over-reliance on cars contributes substantially to street-level pollution MEPA should never down-play the findings and significance of pollution in regard to health. MEPA has failed in its duty to keep pollution in check by allowing huge property developments whose Environment Impact Assessment clearly did not take the added traffic pollution into account. The authorities have failed at every level of this problem, especially in disregarding the scandalous situation where buses and heavy vehicles are allowed to flout the law by polluting heavily before our eyes. 

The problem of pollution demands a holistic approach.  The report recently published by The Public Policy Institute (TPPI) suggests numerous ways to decrease the scourge of traffic pollution.  

MEPA must never be economical with the truth – it should not hesitate to make it clear that traffic pollutants, especially particulates and benzene, are a very serious threat to health. This includes early death from an increase in cancer rates and other heart and lung disorders while air pollution is the root cause of Malta’s record levels of childhood asthma and stunted lung development.  

People living in urban areas are still exposed to high concentrations of pollutants months after ADT announced a clamp-down on excessive vehicle emissions and transport reform. FAA maintains that it is action that is needed, not words.

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar

28th October 2008