Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1530039
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 DECEMBER 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Updated Noise Action Plan to assess health impacts of noise pollution Saving lives with every beat: A defibrillator in every building A public consultation has been launched to update Malta's Noise Action Plan (NAP) under the EU Environmental Noise Directive. Led by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment, the update will include further studies on the health risks of prolonged noise exposure, focusing on issues such as ischaemic heart disease, sleep disturbances, and heightened lev- els of annoyance. The consultation also presents findings from the 2021 strategic noise maps, revealing noise lev- els across Malta and Gozo from road, air, and industrial sources. Preliminary data indicate signif- icant noise pollution near major roadways, urban centres, and Malta International Airport. The NAP does not address noise nuisance but focuses on continu- ous, long-term exposure to noise that exceeds a certain threshold. Central to the plan is the use of dose-effect relationships to assess health risks. This model links noise exposure thresholds to specific health out- comes, such as increased risks of cardiovascular disease and sleep disturbance. According to guidelines issued by the World Health Organisa- tion (WHO), noise exceeding 55 dB — the noise generated by cars passing at moderate speeds — is associated with higher rates of ischaemic heart disease. Night- time noise levels above 40 dB(A) disrupt sleep, and continuous noise exceeding 45 dB frequent- ly causes annoyance and stress, potentially leading to long-term mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. The NAP also aims to use these insights to prioritise actions in the most affected areas and de- velop strategies to protect public health. Quiet areas yet to be designated Key proposals include the desig- nation of "quiet areas," improved monitoring systems, and ongoing health impact assessments. ERA also seeks to preserve low-noise areas in the countryside through protective measures and man- agement plans. The EU's Noise Directive re- quires member states to "pre- serve environmental noise quali- ty where it is good" by identifying and protecting designated quiet areas. However, the directive does not provide a prescriptive definition of what constitutes a quiet area, leaving it up to each member state to develop its own approach to identifying and pro- tecting such areas. The current NAP defines a qui- et area as one that either has nat- urally low noise levels or should be protected from excessive noise due to its specific characteristics or the nature of activities, such as in playing fields. The current plan already includes a two-step approach to identifying potential quiet areas, which will then be considered for further evaluation prior to public consultation on their designation. However, this exercise has not yet been final- ised. The public is encouraged to submit feedback via the offi- cial consultation portal or by emailing era.policy@era.org.mt. Contributions will inform the final plan, which is expected to shape Malta's noise management strategy for the next five years. AN editorial in the Malta Med- ical Journal penned by respect- ed paediatrician Simon Attard Montalto calls for the manda- tory installation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces and for CPR train- ing to be made compulsory for staff in large institutions. These recommendations are based on the crucial role of im- mediate bystander intervention in improving survival rates for cardiac arrest victims, especial- ly in Malta, where delays in re- sponse remains a major issue. With ambulance response times often exceeding 10 minutes, the editorial emphasises that every minute of delay in initiating CPR reduces the chances of survival by 10%. As such, timely bystand- er intervention, supported by ac- cessible AEDs, is crucial. The editorial points to alarm- ing statistics from 2016, noting that while 71% of cardiac arrests were witnessed by bystanders, only 39% of these incidents saw any form of intervention, and just 9% involved bystander use of a defibrillator. The survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests at that time was a mere 6%. While updated figures are not provided, these numbers underscore the importance of expanding public access to AEDs and further enhancing CPR training. One key recommendation is the mandatory installation of AEDs in all public buildings, including schools, churches, cinemas, and other venues with significant foot traffic, as pro- posed by the Malta Resuscita- tion Council. To accomplish this, the editorial proposes that planning applications for such establishments should include requirements for the installa- tion of AEDs. In addition, CPR training should be made mandatory for staff in large institutions, ensur- ing that trained individuals are always available in case of an emergency. However, the editorial also celebrates the greater aware- ness and increased prepared- ness achieved through initi- atives undertaken in the past decade. These include wide- spread training programmes by the Malta Resuscitation Coun- cil (MRC), the Red Cross, and other organisations, which have helped train over 10,000 indi- viduals across Malta and Gozo. These trained individuals in- clude healthcare professionals, students, teachers, sportspeo- ple, and even children. Efforts such as the European Resusci- tation Council's World Restart a Heart Day, and the Kids Save Lives campaign have raised awareness and expanded train- ing among the general public, focusing on those most likely to witness a cardiac arrest. Furthermore, the MRC's in- troduction of the children's book Fibrillu, which teach- es CPR through an illustrated story, has been a milestone in promoting life-saving skills to young audiences. Distributed to schools, this book aims to em- power the next generation with the knowledge of how to act during emergencies. The collaboration with UEFA on the 'Get Trained, Save Lives' campaign has also captured significant attention, especially among sports fans, highlight- ing how prompt CPR can mean the difference between life and death. However, the Malta AED-locator app, designed to help users find available AEDs in emergencies, has seen limit- ed uptake, with too few AEDs registered for optimal public access. The regeneration of Spencer Garden in Marsa that was inaugurated recently, included protective sound barriers to minimise noise emanating from the busy thoroughfare alongside the garden. The government has now launched a public consultation to update the Noise Action Plan. (Photo: DOI) One of the AED's in Valletta JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt