Toxic fumes on Gozo Channel?

As passengers enter the car decks of Gozo Channel ferries in greater numbers than usual for the Santa Marija holiday, they will almost be able to taste the toxic fumes in the air.
They may also be greeted by the sight of crew members marshalling the cars while wearing air-purifying masks, or respirators.
Several passengers who spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta have been disturbed to see this trend – for the health-conscious, the masks are the canary in the mine.
“This isn’t a practice we’re used to on the ferries and it got me and others thinking that something is not quite right,” one commuter said.
Other travellers said that the wearing of masks, although not seen on every voyage, has been going on for the past five of six weeks, prompting questions about the level of gases like carbon monoxide that accumulate inside the car decks.
A source close to Gozo Channel told The Sunday Times of Malta that the ships’ extractors may not be coping with the exhaust fumes being emitted. The air inside the car deck became unbearable with the exhaust being belched out from passenger and commercial vehicles.

 “An upgrade of the extractors is desperately needed to ensure full-air circulation...