The World Health Organisation defines air pollution as "contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere".
Air pollution has deleterious effects on everybody's health, including children and the elderly. Its health effects include lung conditions (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/COPD and lung cancer), as well as cardiovascular conditions (heart disease and stroke).
Available data on Maltese air quality and its potential health effects show increased outdoor pollution and an ever-increasing number of Maltese children suffering from respiratory conditions like asthma and rhinitis.
These data show Maltese children aged 10-15 are more likely to suffer from allergic respiratory diseases compared to children of the same age living in southern Sicily, just 100km across the Mediterranean.
Motor vehicles are a major source of air pollution, both outdoors and to a certain extent even indoors. They pollute both when moving in traffic, but even when they are stationary and have the engine on, a practice called "idling". Idling is often seen on the streets of Malta. People leave their vehicles' engine on for a variety of reasons: to drop off or wait for somebody, deliver a parcel, take a phone call or simply to check their phones. Many people do not realise that modern vehicles generate more pollution when left idle compared to turning off and then on again the engine.
Leaving the car's engine on while dropping off one's children at school or waiting for them at the end of the school day might seem a harmless habit, but it is far from it. Instead, it generates enough pollution to affect everyone around, and particularly the children. Not only does idling generates exhaust, but it does so closer to the ground level, which is the level at which small children breath. Moreover, this ambient pollution finds its way into school classrooms and kindergartens, once more negatively affecting their health.
Beyond increasing air pollution, idling for longer than 10 seconds also consumes more fuel than turning off and back on the engine. For passenger cars, idling can lead to an extra fuel consumption of up to 2.2L/hour, depending on the car size. For bigger vehicles like trucks, the fuel consumption during idling can go up to an astonishing 5.7L/hour.
In other words, leaving your car engine on for longer than 10 seconds can negatively affect everyone's health, the environment and cost you money. Is it really worth doing it?
Eliminating idling would enhance the air quality we breathe, thereby improving our health and contributing to a better, healthier environment. Additionally, it would save us money.
Then, why not work together to stop this harmful practice that seems to be so widespread?
Association of Private Family Doctors are full members of Malta Health Network
www.maltahealthnetwork.org
Daniela Gresie-Brusin, MD, PhD, MPH specialist physician in family medicine Scope certified in obesity management - www.dgresiebrusin.com