The Po Valley among the most polluted areas in Europe. Sassari is the city with the best air quality in Italy

The Po Valley among the most polluted areas in Europe.  Sassari is the city with the best air quality in Italy

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Year after year, the data continues to confirm that the Po Valley and theItaly are among the areas with the worst air quality in Europeespecially when it comes to fine particles. The recent report “Europe’s air quality status 2023” by theEuropean Environment Agency (EEA) in fact, he reiterates how the north of our country, for example at the Pm 2.5 level, records worrying values ​​that are well above the limits set by the WHO.

Values, the European ones, which according to research expose thousands of children to heavy air pollution and potential diseases. In fact, smog causes the premature death of 1200 children every year throughout Europe and many more are prone to respiratory illnesses and physical and mental health problems that could have lifelong consequences, says the European Environment Agency.

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The study, which analyzed the air quality of 37 countriesthose members of the European Union plus others such as Norway, Iceland, Swiss, Türkiye, Serbia, Kosovo And Montenegroexamined the presence of air pollutants such as particulate matter or nitrogen dioxide in major cities and argues that most of the urban realities in which we live are below the standards necessary to breathe clean air.

In Europe it is estimated that 97% of the population, of all ages, is exposed to levels of air pollution above the WHO limits.

The problem, as he explains Gerardo Sanchez Martinez, environment and health expert at the EEA, is that “children cannot be thought of as small adults, when it comes to air pollution they “absorb” more pollution and this phase already begins in the mother’s womb and continues in kindergarten and then beyond. We are failing our children and their future.” Indeed, several studies have shown that exposure to high levels of pollutants during childhood can inhibit lung capacity, cause asthma and lead to higher levels of respiratory diseases and infections, as well as delays in brain development. Having a faster respiratory rate, children – who spend more time outdoors – are therefore much more exposed than their parents.

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For this reason, as he explains Hans Bruyninckx, EEA executive director, more needs to be done to reduce smog. “Air pollution levels across Europe are still dangerous and European air quality policies should aim to protect all citizens, but especially our children, who are the most vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution. It is urgently continue to step up measures at EU, national and local level. The most effective way to keep them safe is to make the air we all breathe cleaner.”

To be able to breathe better air we should review the combustion of fossil fuels, the heating systems of homes, industries and road traffic. Specifically, to help the little ones, it would then be necessary to think about the creation of “clean air” zones around schools, where traffic and combustion events would be limited, just as it would be necessary to plant “trees and hedges” around playgrounds, or equip school facilities with ventilation systems and filters to reduce the impact of pollution.

Italy and the Po Valley are among the worst in Europe

If you look at the countries with the worst statistics related to for example fine particulate matter and other pollutants, those in Eastern and Eastern Europe are footing the bill for heavy use of coal burning for home heating, but at the level of specific zones and the Po Valley to record some of the most worrying values.

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Bringing up the rear among Italian cities is Cremona372nd and fourth last in the ranking of European cities with the best air quality, referred to the presence of Pm 2.5, but for example the economic capital of Italy is also doing badly, Milanin 349th place, or Padua (367°) e Venice (362°). Rome is 257th, Naples 241st.

On the other hand, the Italian podium can be counted among the best Sassari (16th), Leghorn (33rd) e Battipaglia (72nd place).

Looking at the general classification, the first three places of the cities with the least polluted air by Pm 2.5 are Lighthouse in Portugal and Swedish cities of Umeå And Uppsalawhile the worst, the last ones after Cremona in the long list, they are the Poles Piotrków Trybunalski (373°) e Nowy Sacz (374th). Last in the standings is the Croatian town of Slavonski Brod (375°).

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