The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) in a statement has reiterated its commitment towards better air quality around the Maltese islands.

The ERA went on to say that it will continue raising awareness on the importance of clean air.

The ERA monitors air quality every day through a network of diffusion tubes around the Maltese islands and through near real time monitoring stations in specific locations, including in Gozo, with a station situated in a rural background site Gharb. In Malta they are in the localities of Zejtun (urban background site), Attard (urban background) and Msida (a traffic site).

Real time data from the air monitoring station at Gharb is available online, and for the graph please click here and the table, please click here.

ERA explained that these real time air monitoring stations can determine concentrations of most pollutants every 15 minutes.

The pollutants monitored in near real time are ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, gaseous mercury, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and meteorological variables.

The pollutant monitored in each station depends on the nature of the station, its location and purpose. Dust speciation in the PM10 fraction is also taking place at specific locations through periodic measurements around the Maltese Islands.

ERA pointed out that the data gathered through this equipment shows that Malta experiences the same challenges as other Member States with road traffic being the main source of air pollution.

“The Covid-19 pandemic was an extraordinary situation in terms of air quality – Msida station experienced a drop of 50% in nitrogen dioxide levels – a marker of emissions from road traffic,” it said.

In an effort to further increase awareness and instigate change, ERA has developed the “Malta’s National Air Pollution Control Programme” – a policy that focuses on traffic measures.

This policy, which is intended for key stakeholders, including the citizens, encourages the use of sustainable mobility which is key to address the situation.

ERA concluded by saying that it also engages in direct promotion of citizen science activities such as the “Fair with Air” initiative which addressed school children and included air monitoring activities in schools throughout the last scholastic year.

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