Air Monitoring report
Commentary on the Air Quality monitoring issues in Sliema
It is common knowledge that Sliema is one of the most densely populated towns and one where most of the construction industry is carried out. The roads are mostly narrow with high buildings of flats giving rise to the canyon effect. The contribution of seaspray which may add on to some problems in pollution. It lacks open spaces.
These factors require special attention to improve air quality in the town to acceptable levels. It has been scientifically proven that high levels of pollutants in air will affect health and life expectancy. It is no coincidence that there are so many cases of pulmonary failure amongst the Sliema youth as well as in old age citizens. A reduction of air pollution would automatically provide measurable health benefits, with a reduction in the health care expenditures.
The current levels of air pollutants in Sliema are being monitored by an Absorbent Tube Programme. This is done by placing four different tubes, each measuring a different pollutant i.e Sulphur Dioxide, Ozone, Nitrogen dioxide and Benzine (together with Toluene and Xylene. This is the passive way of monitoring and gives an average of the pollutant as exposed in the four weeks.
A set of four passive diffusion tubes are fixed in three different points ie
1) Mid Borg Olivier Street,
2) Mid Manuel Dimeck Street,
3) Upper Rue D'Argens
This is a most unsatisfactory method by which to view the whole picture regarding air quality in such a densely populated, high transit town which is riddled with construction sites. Even more so given that harmful small particulate matter PM 10 (and even smaller particles PM 2.5) is not monitored at all by the diffusion tubes.
NOTE PM10 and PM2.5 refer to particles with diameter less than 10 and 2.5Microns (a micron is 1/1000 of a millimetre): coarse or fine particles respectively.
Whilst the invisible PM10 dust has the serious effects on the health especially of the young and old, the finer PM2.5 can pass the defensive mechanisms of our bodies, enter the alveoli and become deposited in our lungs.
The SRA considers that monitoring by this method is not adequate and it recommends that monitoring of air quality should be done by real time analysers and a risk-based action plan should be drafted to establish the true picture at places of peak hazard.
Regulations, action plans and remedies should be aimed at controlling the correct pollutant to avoid the counter-productive efforts.
A commissioned preliminary report (Stacy and Bush 2002) recommended that monitoring should be largely concentrated on the Sliema and Valletta area. The findings in Msida are probably less representative of the situation in Sliema. Msida is the nearest point to Sliema to measure PM10 and PM2.5. This factor is of high concern the SRA and its members. The passive Diffusion Tubes in all points indicate a reduction in Sulphur anions, due to the government purchase of better quality fuel but high levels in pollutants produced from traffic.
The remote monitoring of real time data in Msida is also a factor of worry since the real problems in Sliema are not being truly registered. Only real time analysers actually placed in Sliema would indicate the peaks reached by each pollutant and how frequently are the peaks attained. Only with such information can technically competent persons identify the true scale of the problem and therefore recommend appropriate abatement measures. SRA believes that monitoring in Sliema is still in the initial stage. It requires attention and immediate action
Whilst the Passive Diffusion Tube monitoring in Sliema shouldn't be stopped, now that the general picture is indicated, the programme can be reduced to once or twice yearly. The money saved could be routed to the provision of real time monitoring equipment
Part of the responsibility for this monitoring could be delegated to the Local Council especially now that the Councils have received better funding. The pollutants in Sliema are specific to the region and must be dealt with as such. A real time PM10 analyser could be fixed on a wide pavement where it would experience the same conditions as pedestrians and householders in the area.
Looking at how the air pollution issues may be mitigated, the following options are available for evaluation:
- Diversion of heavy traffic
- One way traffic established properly (taking into account the gradients)
- A 'Park and Ride' centre outside Sliema bringing in shoppers and commuters
- An increase in environmental friendly transport within the Sliema boundary
- Provision of cycle lanes
The main and basic necessity that requires attention to guide all mitigation measures is a good, efficient, reliably-monitored air quality measurement system providing real-time data from strategic locations. Only then will the situation be dealt with truly effectively