Stark Findings: Air Pollution Exceeds Safety Thresholds Across Italy

A recent comprehensive analysis spanning January to March 2025, conducted by Isde Italia, the Clean Cities Campaign, and the Kyoto Club, has revealed a concerning trend: widespread air quality degradation across 26 major Italian cities. The data paints a grim picture, highlighting the urgent need for decisive action to protect public health.

Genoa Grapples with Excessive Nitrogen dioxide Levels

In Genoa, monitoring stations operated by the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (Arpal) recorded a staggering 55 days where nitrogen dioxide levels surpassed the daily limit stipulated by the new European Directive 2024/2881. This directive sets the limit at 50 micrograms per cubic meter, allowing for exceedance no more than 18 times annually. However, the situation worsens when considering the World Health Association’s (WHO) stricter guidelines.

Adhering to the WHO’s recommended threshold of 25 micrograms per cubic meter, which should ideally be exceeded only 3-4 times a year, Genoa experienced a shocking 113 days of exceedance out of the 120-day monitoring period.This stark contrast underscores the severity of the air quality challenge facing the Ligurian capital.

Contributing factors in Genoa, a bustling port city, include heavy road traffic and significant emissions from naval transport, as highlighted by emission inventories.

health Impacts: A “Real health Emergency”

The consequences of prolonged exposure to such elevated pollutant levels are dire. Air pollution represents a real health emergency, warned Roberto Romizi, president of ISDE Italia, and Paolo Bortolotti, the project lead, in a recent statement. The documented health effects are extensive, ranging from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases to neurodevelopmental disorders in children and reproductive issues in adults.

The WHO’s 2021 guidelines and the new European directive emphasize the strong correlation between long-term exposure to pollutants and an increased risk of chronic illnesses and premature mortality.Fabrizio Bianchi, an environmental epidemiologist at the CNR of Pisa, notes that cumulative exposure over time gradually weakens the health of people and communities.

Giovanni Viegi, a pulmonologist and member of several international scientific societies, referenced the recent WHO world conference in Cartagena, which set a goal to reduce the negative impacts of pollution by 50% by 2040. Achieving this aspiring target necessitates an integrated approach encompassing urban planning, transportation, and energy systems.

National Overview: Regional Disparities and Widespread Concerns

The study encompassed 26 cities across Italy, revealing distinct regional patterns in air pollution. While the Po Valley faces the most significant challenges regarding fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide pollution is a widespread concern, especially in Southern Italy.

Fine Particulate Matter: A Northern Predicament

Cities like Milan,Modena,Padua,and Vicenza have already exceeded the current legal limit for PM10 (35 exceedances annually) up to 31 times. Applying the stricter WHO guidelines (45 micrograms) or the new EU directive (18 exceedances annually) dramatically expands the number of affected cities. Under the EU directive, 10 cities exceed the limit, while a staggering 23 out of 26 fail to meet WHO standards. Genoa, Pescara, and Prato are the only exceptions.

The situation is even more critical for PM2.5, with 11 cities, including Turin, Milan, and Padua, already surpassing the European limit set for 2030. Only Ancona and Pescara remain within the WHO’s recommended limits.

Nitrogen Dioxide: A North-South Divide

Unlike fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide pollution is prevalent in both Northern and Southern Italy.Congested urban mobility and emissions from naval traffic contribute significantly to this issue, particularly in southern cities.

Palermo, Naples, Messina, Turin, Catania, Milan, Vicenza, and Genoa have already exceeded the annual limit established by the EU directive. Alarmingly, none of the 26 monitored cities meet the WHO’s stringent recommendations. Turin has recorded 90 days exceeding the threshold, followed by milan, Palermo, Messina, Bergamo, and Genoa, all with over 80 days of exceedance.

The progressive annual average indicates that Genoa, along with seven other cities, has already surpassed the current value of 40 micrograms per cubic meter, as well as the threshold of 30 provided for by the new European directive.

Expert Recommendations: Immediate Action Required

Experts are urging immediate action to address this escalating crisis. ISDE Italia argues that waiting until 2030 to implement the new limits is unacceptable. Their demands are clear: adopt WHO thresholds immediately, drastically reduce fossil fuel consumption, promote public transportation, strengthen monitoring efforts, and raise public awareness.

Francesco Ferrante, vice president of the Kyoto Club, emphasizes that investing in air quality means investing in health and contrasting the climatic crisis. He criticizes the Budget Law 2025 for diverting resources to projects like the Messina bridge, thereby undermining lasting mobility initiatives.