Bermudas love for cars comes at a high price, according to the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (BBSR), which reports that East Broadway experiences the highest concentrations of airborne particulate matter in Bermuda ? primarily because of traffic emissions.

In fact, East Broadway exceeded the annual limit for airborne particles specified in the Bermuda Clean Air Regulations 1993.

BBSR scientists found that Bermuda has one of the highest road traffic densities in the world, with approximately 100 vehicles per kilometre of paved road, compared to Japan which has about 60 vehicles per kilometre of road.

Scientists have been conducting research on the Island?s atmosphere since the 1980s at three sites including Prospect, Belco and East Broadway using highly sensitive instruments that detects particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers.

In the BBSR?s 2004 annual report, Dr. Andrew Peters, an associate research scientist, reports that repeated long-term exposure to airborne particulate matter, especially the finer particles, may exacerbate or cause heart problems and respiratory problems, including asthma and emphysema.

He added that these can also directly introduce associated toxic chemicals into the lungs.

Dr. Peters said those at greater risk from these effects include those with existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, the elderly, children and asthmatics of all ages.

Current atmospheric research at BBSR is aimed at determining the possible effects of rising levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere.

Scientists found that because of no heavy industry in Bermuda, the air we breath, in general, is of good quality.

However, scientists report that there are local sources of air pollutants which may adversely impact local air quality, including waste incineration at the Tynes Bay Waste Treatment Facility, electricity generated at the Belco generating plant and road traffic emissions.

Dr. Peters said other sources of air pollutants include emissions from cruise ships and light industrial activity.

He said constant monitoring is required to ensure that the residents of Bermuda continue to have access to clean air.

This role is contracted to BBSR in the form of the Air Quality Programme, by the Bermuda Government?s Department of Environmental Protection.

Plans for future research include a programme, starting this year, to investigate the occurrence and levels of mercury in Bermuda?s environment.

Dr. Peters said mercury and its compounds are highly toxic, especially to developing nervous systems, and have caused a variety of documented, significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment world-wide.

Previous studies have shown that mercury may be present at elevated levels in Bermuda?s environment.

In 2003, the Atlantis Project demonstrated elevated mercury concentrations in human foetal cord blood and in some local species of fish.

Dr. Peters said an emerging programme managed by BBSR will provide information on the sources, forms, levels and spatial and temporal trends of mercury in Bermuda?s environment.

He said initially, measurements would be made of mercury in air and precipitation at the Prospect laboratory, and will eventually expand to include soil, sediment and key fish species.

This work, he said, would help to ensure the continuing protection of Bermuda?s environmental and public health.