Concern about the amount of noxious fumes coming from motor vehicles has prompted Government to launch a monitoring programme at the Transport Control Department.

The voluntary programme will run for the next three months at TCD operated by trained technicians from Bermuda Emissions Controls.

Motorists will be asked to allow their car or other motor vehicle to be tested for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon levels while at TCD for its annual testing.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said the testing is designed to be a "comprehensive measure of vehicle emissions''.

Dr. Brown explained that Environment Ministry testing at Crow Lane has shown that the Island's vehicles are not burning fuel as efficiently as possible.

While the resultant smog is not as bad as in some of the major cities around the world, "our tourists are telling us that Bermuda is wonderful but they can't smell the flowers'', he explained.

The Transport Minister will also table in Parliament during the coming term an amendment to the Motor Car Act to require all motor vehicles imported into Bermuda to meet European, US or Japanese domestic vehicle emissions standards.

A third aspect of the programme is a campaign to encourage residents to ensure their motor vehicles are properly maintained to reduce emissions.

"Most vehicles on Bermuda's roads have no emission controls and we have no sound measurement of the levels of harmful pollutants that go into our atmosphere from them,'' Dr. Brown said at the programme's launch yesterday at TCD.

"We must take action now to find ways to reduce the air pollution that does exist so that we can prevent any serious problems that may arise in the future,'' he added.

"The test will take approximately ten minutes and present little inconvenience to the vehicle owner,'' Dr. Brown continued. "All types of vehicles will be tested including cars, cycles, trucks... and buses.'' Dr. Brown explained he was concerned also as a physician at the effect of by-products of internal combustion engines in causing or worsening asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Emissions monitoring will help to clear the air "I consider this project a very important step, not only from my perspective as Transport Minister but also as a physician. We must do all we can to reduce any health risks that may be caused by vehicle exhausts.

"We are asking the public to support our efforts in this regard and are confident that in time, we will see the positive results of these initiatives that we are beginning today,'' he added.

When asked if the testing programme might see resistance from the public who might be afraid of sanction if their car fails, Dr. Brown smiled and said: "No, this is a friendly change.

"I believe there will be people who will volunteer, especially people like asthmatics and others,'' he said. "It's not necessary to make it mandatory yet. We'll find enough vehicles.'' Instructing Bermuda Emissions Controls in the operation of the hardware and software is North Carolina A&T State University professor Thurman Exum.

Dr. Exum said: "We have to set a standard which will allow us to compare vehicles against in the future.

"This equipment will identify the greatest emitters that are in use so that steps can be taken to correct the problem,'' he added. "All of the vehicle emission problems can be corrected. That's where the public education aspect comes in.''