In Campania – evidenzia Legambiente – sono state 9 le città fuorilegge per la qualità dell’aria, perché oltre la soglia limite per le polveri sottili Pm10 (35 days of exceedances per year with a concentration higher than 50 micrograms per cubic meter), with a slight improvement compared to 2018 when 13 cities in Campania were affected by smog.
Fine dust mainly affects the province of Naples: according to Arpac data processed by Legambiente, the black jersey with the record of exceedances is for San Vitaliano with 115 violations, one every three days; follows Pomigliano D'Arco where the days of exceeding were 82; closes the podium Nocera Inferiore with 72 violations.
As regards provincial capital cities, in 2019 only Naples (Railway control unit) exceeded the threshold of fine particles permitted by law, with 36 days of exceeding the legal limits.
The other outlaw Campanian cities are Casoria (Na) with 46 days, Aversa (Ce) with 68 days; Volla (Na) with 58 exceedances; Acerra (Na) with 64 exceedances and Saint Felix Gate with 46.
Exceedances that translate into health problems, costs for the healthcare system and significant impacts on ecosystems: according to the Air Quality Report 2019 of the European Environment Agency (2016 data), in Italy premature deaths due to fine particulate matter PM2,5 are at least 58.600. Not to mention that in Italy the costs related to health resulting from air pollution are estimated between 47 and 142 billion euros. Data that further describe the urgency of concrete policies to improve air quality.
«As we have been repeating for years, sporadic measures are not necessary, but it is urgent to implement structural interventions and ad hoc actions both at national and local level to free cities from the blanket of smog – comments Mariateresa Imparato, President of Legambiente Campania -. In this, the role of the Region is fundamental in preparing plans and measures as well as new funds to be allocated to innovative projects to define an effective and integrated anti-smog action that radically changes transport, energy production, agriculture, industry and construction. Alongside regional policy, municipal administrations must have more courage, be less fearful in applying new concrete and effective sustainable mobility policies to improve the quality of life of citizens. Priority – concludes the president of Legambiente Campania – is to invest in a modernization of the bus fleet, focusing on modern local public transport, commuter trains and alternative mobility, without forgetting the energy requalification of buildings, thus ensuring a reduction in emissions from domestic heating systems»
On the quality of air in our cities Legambiente Campania is involved in the European project AIR HERITAGE.
The Air Heritage project of the Municipality of Portici was the only Italian proposal to win the III European call for proposals “Innovative Urban Actions” UIA.
With Air Heritage, the following are pursued: a 20% reduction in fine (PM10) and ultrafine (PM2,5) particles, NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide), CO (Carbon Monoxide) and O3 (Ozone), an increase of 1.000 E-bike sharing users, the diffusion of the walking bus in 75% of primary schools, a 20% increase in children who reach school on foot.
Measures to be tested in the city of Portici but which could be multiplied in other cities of Campania to improve air quality with the increase of services and the protagonism of citizens.
EDITORIAL TEAM
Choose the social channel you want to subscribe to