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Authorities under pressure to explain swimming ban

The public health department’s notice banning people from swimming along the Bahar ic-Caghaq coastline has triggered speculation that the warning is connected to the ever-growing Maghtab mountain directly opposite.

And the authorities’ comment to the media yesterday that the decision was taken because tests carried out in the area showed a slight evidence of chemical, but no micro-biological pollution was little source of comfort to environmental experts.

"It is what the authorities are not saying rather than what they are saying that raises questions," one expert said. "The fact that no micro-biological pollution was found simply means that there was no evidence of sewage in the waters there. But the authorities should tell us exactly what chemical pollution was traced. Was it dioxins, or heavy metal presence? The people deserve some answers."

It is routine for the authorities to issue a list of areas where swimming is not recommended at the beginning of summer, but often these are mentioned either because they are closed harbour areas, ports or near sewage outfalls.

And the reason for the Bahar ic-Caghaq ban remains something of a mystery, due to the terseness of the notice, which was only elaborated on slightly due to the extent of media interest.

Bahar ic-Caghaq is popular with swimmers and picnickers, but its proximity to the monstrous Maghtab dump is impossible to ignore.

The expert said that for some time now, there has been suspicion that dioxins, probably from plastic waste at Maghtab, could be seeping into the sea.

"It is difficult to gauge the effects that contamination from dioxins could have, partly because they could take place over time and also because they tend to vary according to body mass," he explained. "But skin rashes and skin discolouring have been mentioned in the short-term, while one long-term effect cited is mild liver damage."

Greenpeace spokesperson Caroline Muscat told MaltaToday that she was not surprised to hear swimming in the area had been banned, pointing out that reports have shown for some time that the coastline around the Maghtab region is polluted.

"Sediment taken from Maghtab and from the boreholes in the area are known to be contaminated, there is a whole cocktail of pollutants there, especially heavy metal," she said.

"What we would really like to see is the authorities doing some serious investigations. Temporary swimming bans are hardly the solution."