Health impact assessment of air quality in Malta

Abstract

Air quality is a major public health issue globally, even more so in urban areas due to increasing population, demands and activities. The more notorious pollutants were investigated in this study. The potential impacts were estimated on the residents of Malta, through the application of the AirQ+ software to provide an estimate of the health impacts of exposure to ambient air pollutants, based on WHO recommendations. This study also stimulated debate on effects of air quality, air quality management in Malta by means of expert and lay interviews and to offer more operative and practical solutions for low air quality in Malta. Three potential interventions, practices and abatement strategies that target the decrease in air pollutants and lessen adverse health effects were also calculated using AirQ+ software, as estimates of the health gains to be made if policies and measures are put in place to provide cleaner air. The expected health gains were translated in terms of economic costs. Such findings can be used to inform national authorities and policymakers in devising strategies for prevention and health promotion according to best practices, helping to identify which measures provide the best returns in terms of air quality and above all population health gains.