Two monitoring stations have been installed in Msida and Zejtun by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, bringing the total so far to four. A fifth monitoring station will be installed in Gozo in the near future.

The stations are situated in 5 October Square in Msida, opposite the parish church, and the other in St Gregory Garden on the outskirts of Zejtun. The other two stations are in Corradino and in Floriana.

The two stations were co-financed by the EU and Mepa under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) concerning the 2004-2006 budget. The EU contributed 75 per cent of the total cost of E500,000.

Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino spoke about the need of an action plan to reduce pollution. He said government projects such as the park-and-ride scheme and the initiative to purchase fuel with low sulphur content to be used at the power stations are resulting in healthier air.

Mepa Pollution Prevention and Control Officer Nadine Axisa said nitrogen dioxide readings have remained stable for the past three years however sulphur and benzene have decreased substantially. She added that the Corradino and Floriana monitoring stations showed that particulate matter readings exceeded the acceptable EU benchmark. Particulate matter results from road traffic emissions, especially diesel powered vehicles, and power generation. However, it is also naturally generated through the proliferation of Sahara dust particles and sea spray.