Every year it is the SNPA, the National System for Environmental Protection, that reels off a relationship point the data relating to quality of the air we breathe. Today, while waiting for the 2024 report to arrive, several Regions have already processed the first data relating to the trend in air quality over the past year.
Annually, the SNPA report analyzes the state and dynamics of air pollution in our country, the progress in clean-up actions and the issues of quality control of measures and emerging evidence on health impacts. Now, the System makes the first reference data public, taking into account – he underlines – “that the final statistics may present differences“.
Although improvements have been recorded in some areas, critical issues related to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and ozone remain, especially in urban and industrial areas.
The preliminary picture of air quality in Italy
Piedmont: less PM2.5, but more days of exceeding PM10
Veneto: the best air of the last 20 years, but not everywhere
Friuli Venezia Giulia: ozone and fine dust problems near Veneto
Liguria: Genoa among the most critical cities for NO₂ and ozone
Emilia-Romagna: PM10 decreasing, but still too many exceedances
Lazio: air quality improves, but critical issues remain in the Sacco Valley
Marche: PM10 within limits for the fifth consecutive year
NO₂ improves, but PM10 and ozone remain a problem
Preliminary data shows an overall improvement in air quality in many Italian regions, with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) now respecting the limits in almost the entire country. But it’s the particulated PM10 to continue to exceed daily limits in several areasespecially in Northern Italy, and ozone remains a widespread problem, thanks to global warming.
Official SNPA data, expected in the coming months, will confirm whether these trends are destined to consolidate or whether critical issues remain to be addressed with more incisive measures.
