Traffic reduction needed in areas of poor air quality
Drastic action is needed to improve air quality after years of inaction, the ADPD political party said on Saturday. The party observed that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and the Ministry for the Environment are currently preparing an air quality plan in accordance with the EU's Ambient Air Quality Directive. The directive and the relevant Maltese regulations set limit values for a number of air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10). ADPD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said in a statement:”For years on end Maltese governments have avoided taking action where science shows it matters most. Science tells us that locations which experience high volumes of traffic suffer from poorer air quality. ERA’s own data shows that Msida exceeds the permissible limits of dangerous particles (PM10) in the air. Government’s own data also shows that the priority areas to tackle dangerous pollution from traffic are Pietà, and parts of Floriana, Msida, Marsa, Ħamrun, Qormi, Luqa and Paola. Residents and those who work in these localities are exposed to dangerous levels of pollution regularly.” The party said the government, should consider a wide variety of options which are...