May 12 - ESG Calls for Further Monitoring of Air Quality Following WHO Report on La Linea
Reacting to recent reports by the World Health Organisation, that La Linea has the worst air quality in Spain, the ESG has insisted that it has campaigned at EC level for many years against the harmful emissions from the nearby petrochemical industry.
The group adds that ‘a number of the large industries located in the Bay have enjoyed protection from complying with modern environmental legislation due to a legal loophole known as the Grandfather Clause.’ Despite this being over it is clear that pollution levels continue to be very high.
Reports produced by Spanish Health authorities and Universities have recently confirmed the strong links between health and mortality, and chronic, chemical pollution exposure. Only some improvements have been made to the pollution levels from the Los Barrios refinery and surrounding plants.
The Group believes that this revelation raises questions for Gibraltar, perhaps suggesting that local air quality should be tested. The ESG has called for a fourth real-time monitor to be placed in the northwestern region of Gibraltar given the increase in the residential spread and growth of industry and the proximity to La Linea and the industry along the bay.
‘The ESG also hopes the Gibraltar Air Quality website (gibraltarairquality.gi) will soon provide real-time information on PM 2.5’s and additional information on PM 10’s produced from power station emissions and traffic fumes, given the impact these are known to have on our health’.
