Malta is again finding it difficult to control dangerous gas emissions, according to the EU’s Environment Agency. After managing to fall within pollution limits set by the EU, the island experienced a sharp rise in pollution caused by traffic in 2012.

Provisional data issued by the EEA shows that Malta reported a 10 per cent increase in nitrogen oxides in 2012, surpassing the EU limit established for the island by 0.6 kilotons.

“The data evidently shows that rather than pollution from the power stations, which used to be the traditional main culprit in Malta’s data in the past, the increase is now deriving from transport,” an EEA official told Times of Malta.

“Nitrogen oxide emission must be controlled with cleaner cars or less traffic,” the official added.

The importation of second hand luxury cars from the UK, usually powered by diesel engines, contributed to exacerbate the problem of congested roads, which is now leading to dangerous high emission levels of nitrogen oxides.

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