We all know that the air we breathe directly affects our health. But do we really know how fit for “consumption” this air is? What are the sources that pollute it? What is the situation with air quality in different localities around Malta and Gozo? How is air quality monitored? What is being done and what more can be done to reduce air pollution and its impact on our health?

These and other questions were the subject of a discussion at a public event organised by the Malta Environment & Planning Authority as part of an EU funded project aiming to increase Malta’s capacity to comply with EU obligations in the field of air quality. The meeting was chaired by Louis Vella who welcomed the participants and introduced the speakers.

Nadine Axisa, who works in the air quality section of the Pollution Prevention & Control Unit at MEPA, described the obligations that Malta is required to fulfil in order to be compliant with EU legislation on air quality, and Malta’s progress in its implementation through the development of the local air monitoring network.

Margaret Azzopardi, who works at the inspectorate in the Pollution Prevention & Control Unit explained that there are a number of particular factors that aggravate air pollution here, including low rainfall and high solar radiation, limited control technology in small and medium industries such as bakeries and factories, low chimneys and the large number of ageing vehicles without catalytic converters.

Dr Karen Vincenti from the Ministry of Health, the Elderly and Community Care talked about the health effects of air pollution.

MEPA maintains an air monitoring network consisting of real time monitoring stations located in sites with different characteristics, such as traffic, sub-urban and background sites. These are in Floriana, Msida, Kordin and Zejtun. A background site will be located in Gozo.

Besides sulphur and nitrogen dioxide, ozone and volatile organic compounds, the stations also measure carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Data collected through the monitoring network is analysed using state-of-the art software.