MEPA says first ‘black dust’ complaint in 2010 made on 14 July

MEPA said the first complaint the Environment Protection Directorate received in 2010, pertaining to the ‘black dust’ issue, was on the 14 July by a resident living in Bormla, in reaction to claims by the PL and the Fgura mayor that matter was not being treated seriously.

“Statements that the ‘black dust’ issue was a thing of the past was incorrect… this complaint was made two days after MEPA had provided the Prime Minster’s office with a reply to Leo Brincat’s parliamentary question which he had made on the 7 July,” a MEPA spokesperson said.

Subsequently, MEPA received another three complaints from separate residents living in Fgura on the 27 July, 4August and 13August 2010 respectively.

MEPA immediately responded by collecting samples from the complainants’ residences and interviewing residents from the area indicated by Leo Brincat.

“Initial analysis clearly show that from the collected dust samples this summer, the physical appearance and size of the dust is significantly different to the black dust that had got deposited last year on a number of residences in the south of Malta, particularly in the locality of Fgura.

“The quantities deposited are also significantly lower than during the summer of 2009. From initial tests carried out, a significant quantity of iron was found in one sample collected, with the result that there is a high possibility that the source of this pollution is coming from a scrap yard. These preliminary results indicate that there may be multiple sources of this dust.”

MEPA said that while it will continue to carry out the necessary tests and investigate any further complaints, the Authority reiterates that in August 2009, it had installed a number of samplers at locations agreed upon with the Fgura Local Council.

“To date due to the intensity of the problem having decreased very little black dust has been collected, not enough to make the analysis feasible and secure using accepted laboratory methods.”