The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL environmental group yesterday said they are moving forward with plans to host the first in a series of air quality monitoring projects around the island of New Providence in the coming months.

Organisers of Raise Awareness about the Bahamas Landfill (RABL) indicated that the projects would consist of placing portable air monitoring equipment in various homes to test the population’s exposure to toxic air pollutants.

RABL officials said that the equipment would be placed in 15 “strategically located” points, some which organisers said are “highly affected” by emissions emanating from the New Providence landfill.

Laura Paine, attorney and co-founder of RABL, explained that residents in selected locations have volunteered to document daily readings of the air quality in and around their homes.

The data will be then published weekly on RABL’s website.

“Due to the lack of initiative on part of our government in assessing and controlling pollution, Bahamians will have to take this task upon themselves,” said Mrs Paine.

She added: “Air quality monitoring is a common practice in most countries like the US where legislation requires every state to establish a network of air monitoring stations for certain pollutants. Generally these stations monitor toxic air pollutants like carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, lead, etc.

“Our monitors will be able to detect particles suspended in the air down to 0.5 micron. This measurement is a good indication of our air quality. Since we don’t have national air quality standards, we will compare our data with the US Air Quality Index (AQI) Values,” indicated Mrs Paine.

“We want Bahamians to be involved in this process and see for themselves the levels of toxicity in our air. Disseminating this type of information to the public serves to educate and raise awareness about this important issue. An informed public can contribute in a meaningful way to improving our environment.”

Air pollution can lead to a wide range of respiratory illnesses and other diseases, according to RABL.

Statistical data supplied by the organisation indicated that a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that there are about 6.3 million deaths a year worldwide that are caused by indoor and outdoor air pollution.

According to the United Nations, AIDS kills about 1.7 million people a year worldwide and malaria 660,000.

“That means that air pollution kills more people every year than both of those terrible scourges combined,” said Mrs Paine.

“Vehicle and cruise ship emissions and the trash smouldering at our city dump are major sources of pollutants and the main causes of air pollution in New Providence.

“Now more than ever, it is increasingly important to be proactive in reducing these emissions to acceptable levels to protect ourselves and the environment from the adverse effects of air pollution.”

RABL executives said the exact locations of the air monitoring equipment will be announced over the next two weeks.

Persons interested in participating in this initiative can contact the group by e-mail at rablbahamas@gmail.com.