Maltese Experts Baffled By Dangerously High Levels Of Pollution In The South
The air pollution in some areas of Malta has gotten so bad, it’s over 20 times the safe levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). But according to a report on the Times of Malta, local experts cannot pinpoint an immediate cause for this sudden spike.
The data, originally published by the European Environment Agency shows heavy concentrations of fine particulate matter in the air around the monitoring station in /Żejtun.
Despite not knowing the exact cause, the one expert on respiratory health who spoke to the Times of Malta did point out that it’s unlikely to be caused by traffic, as nitrogen dioxide levels (usually associated with pollution from traffic) hadn’t increased. Another explained that heavy marine traffic may be a contributing factor.
Whatever the reason, the original report by the European Environment Agency found that pollution in Malta was responsible for 250 premature deaths in Malta back in 2014.