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Flimkien
għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) wholeheartedly supports the firm stand
taken by Government as regards bus owners who insist on defying the
authorities by refusing to allow their buses to be tested for fuel
emissions. The arrogant attitude of the Public Transport Association is
not to be tolerated and it is time that the pollution caused by these
buses is eradicated.
FAA
asks the public to support the Government’s stand on this issue. The
pollution created by these buses is of a highly dangerous nature and the
health of the public will continue to be endangered as long as these buses
are allowed to run with engines that are defective, tampered with to save
on fuel, not properly adjusted or being run on inferior fuel.
“The
public needs to be aware of the serious threat to health from the black
smoke emitted by these buses. This sooty smoke is extremely dangerous
because it consists of minute particles called ‘particulates’ which
are so fine that they can even be absorbed into the bloodstream” said
Dr. George Debono, FAA committee member. An extensive study by the
American Cancer Society showed that exposure to such particles results in
an increase in lung cancer risk and shorter life span. This finding was
subsequently confirmed by other studies. A study in Sweden suggested that
exposure to this kind of pollution increases the risk of lung cancer by
nearly 50%. This could mean that one in every three cases of cancer been
caused by the kind of pollution emitted by these buses.
Furthermore,
exposure to these pollutants also contributes to the enormously high rate
of asthma in Malta, especially in those living near roads that carry heavy
traffic. The prevalence of asthma or asthma-like symptoms in Fgura, which
is an area exposed to pollution from heavy traffic, is among the highest
ever recorded internationally.
Another
serious finding in children exposed to such pollution is referred to as
‘reduced lung function development’. This means that the lungs of
children exposed to traffic pollution remain under-developed.
Anybody
driving a diesel vehicle which emits this smoke is endangering the health
not only of pedestrians and children in the vicinity of these buses, but
of all people since the finer of these diesel particles, which are
invisible and the most dangerous, remain suspended in the air for a very
long time and penetrate our homes.
FAA
15th May 2008