A newly published study by the Bermuda Biological Station for Research has confirmed what many West End commuters already know: East Broadway is the Island?s most polluted spot ? and it is getting worse.

And while Government?s top environmentalist has declared the Island?s overall air quality ?is very good?, it will continue to be monitored to protect human health and wildlife.

Scientists at BBSR measure the amount of pollution in the air as Total Suspended Particles (TSP). The standard of 60 TSP means there would be 60 micrograms of pollutants per cubic metre of air.

The testing is done at Tudor Hill, near the Belco plant, Prospect, St. David?s Head and East Broadway with High Volume Air Samplers. A vacuum pump pulls air through a special filter at a set rate over a 24-hour period. The filters are then weighed and the mass of TSP is calculated.

A BBSR report said: ?In all years, the detection of TSP at East Broadway was higher than at other sites.

?In 2003, East Broadway exceeded the annual average limit of 60 TSP specified in the Bermuda Clean Air Regulations 2003.

?East Broadway is a site of high traffic congestion. These results indicate the significance of the effect of vehicular emissions on the quality of Bermuda?s air,? the report said.

It said Government agencies enforce the monitoring of TSP owing to their impact on human health and the environment.

Air pollution is harmful to humans as repeated long-term exposure may exacerbate or cause heart problems and respiratory problems including asthma and emphysema.

TSP are bad for the environment, heavy particles coat leaf surfaces, inhibiting vegetative growth. They also impair visibility and reduce solar radiation.

The main sources of TSP are motor vehicles, industry, power generation, construction and agriculture but TSP are already found in the air as soil, bacteria, mould, pollen and salt particles.

While he is upbeat about the results, Director of Environmental Protection Tom Sleeter said Government was ?considering amendments? to the Clean Air Act 1991 and Clean Air Regulations 1993.

Dr. Sleeter said the increase in pollution from last year had to do with construction near Crow Lane, as construction is a very large source of particles, creating dust which can get stuck in people?s lungs.

Dr. Sleeter said Government pays BBSR to measure Bermuda?s ambient air standards, and noted: ?Indoor air is monitored by the Health Department. Ambient, or outside air, is measured by Environmental Protection.?

He said outdoor air is ?strict and protective? which meant overall ?concentrations of pollution in the air are low. Ambient air is really good. There are localised problems. East Broadway is one of these pollution sources?.

BBSR research scientist Andrew Peters agreed. ?Luckily (East Broadway) is not residential. Most people are in their vehicles or pass through the area very quickly.?

Pockets of pollution are also found around quarries and industrial areas.

In order for industrial plants to remain open, they must pass a tests from Environmental Protection to get operating licences.

?We get the conditions of operation for any big industrial plant. They are required to do computer modelling to show that the plant can operate without exceeding the ambient air levels of pollution.

?We look at their emissions, emission controls and use computer models to predict the ambient air standards,? Dr. Sleeter said.

Dr. Peters said part of the Bermuda Electric Light Company?s ?operating licence was a requirement they maintain their own ambient air monitoring programme.?

And the Bio Station performs ?independent checks on Belco?s instrumentation and emission levels,? BBSR?s Tony Knap said.

Belco has not exceeded the Bermuda Clean Air Regulations limit of an annual average of 60 TSP since 1999.

However, in 2004, Belco recorded its highest level since 2000, when it reached 42 TSP. In 2000, Belco was found to release an average of 52 TSP.

Dr. Sleeter said there were two stations around Belco which had recorded Station four excesses this year of large dust particles (PM-10).

But Dr. Peters said ?in terms of air quality cars are the largest polluters?.

Future research includes very small dust particles which are directly breathed into the lungs.

Dr. Knap said BBSR had been monitoring ambient air since 1982, when levels of acid rain were very high at 4.2 pH.

But at the Prospect monitoring station, they found the level of acid in rain has dropped steadily since the eighties to a pH level of over 5.0 pH.

Most of Bermuda?s acid rain floats in from across the Atlantic, Dr. Knap said. But after a ?very successful? clean up of American industrial emissions, Bermuda?s acid rain level has decreased.

He said with a good north-east wind, material from the US can reach Bermuda in six to eight hours. And it was found that five percent of US emissions reached a sampling site in Ireland.

The BBSR also reports 100 water tanks Islandwide were sampled for 17 heavy metals, but all were found to have levels below the maximum acceptable limits.

The majority of contaminants are retained in the bottom of the tank, which shows that keeping tanks and roofs cleaned and maintained helps to ensure good quality water.

It is against the law to burn anything other than plant waste without a licence, Dr. Sleeter reminded the public, adding that other pollution reducing measures include: keeping vehicles in good running condition, only using four stroke engines, conserving energy at home or work and using alternative travel like walking, biking, or taking public transport.