Legambiente presented the “Mal'Aria” report in Acerra, highlighting the critical situation regarding air quality in some areas of Campania. During the event, activists organized a flash mob, highlighting the places most affected by pollution.
Among the cities highlighted in the report, Acerra, San Vitaliano and Naples stand out, defined as the most “outlaws” with regards to air quality regulations.
Legambiente's complaint is part of a broader context of concern for public health and the environment, drawing the attention of the competent authorities to a problem that has afflicted these communities for years.
The meeting was a moment of mobilization and awareness, aimed at pushing for concrete actions in favor of a healthier environment. The activists urged citizens and institutions to pay more attention to the situation of air pollution, fundamental for the well-being of residents.
Of the 27 monitored cities in Campania, eight cities (9 stations in total) do not respect the 10-day limit set for PM35 with an average daily concentration of less than 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/mXNUMX).
Campania cities are dramatically unprepared with current pollution levels still too far from the parameters that will come into force in 2030: 85% of cities show annual PM10 averages above the limits. As for NO2, out of 29 cities where data from ARPAC monitoring stations have always been available, 48% show annual average NO2 concentrations above the 2030 targets.
As regards PM2.5, out of 21 cities in Campania where data from ARPAC monitoring stations have always been available, all show average annual concentrations of PM2.5 above the objectives set for 2030.
Specifically, in 2024 , eight monitored cities in Campania failed to comply with the 35-day PM10 limit , with an average daily concentration of less than 50 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3). Acerra leads the list of cities that violated the current PM10 regulations , with 86 days of exceedance recorded at the monitoring station located in the Industrial Zone and 54 days of exceedance recorded at the monitoring station at the Caporale School. San Vitaliano (Scuola Marconi) follows with 58 days, Naples (Ospedale Pellegrini) with 57 days , Volla (Via Filichito) with 49 days , Teverola (Via S. Lorenzo) with 45 days, and Aversa (Scuola Cirillo) with 41 days of exceedance.
A new entry this year is the city of Pomigliano D'Arco (ASI Area), with 45 days of excess, compared to 31 last year, when it was not outside the law. Maddaloni (Settembrini School) also exceeds the limits with 44 days of excess, compared to 25 days last year. This situation is especially serious for the municipalities of Teverola, San Vitaliano, and Acerra, which after just 30 days in 2025 have already exceeded the legal limits by 17, 16, and 13 days, respectively.
Furthermore, it should be noted that Acerra, with its 86 days of excesses recorded in 2024, far surpasses the cities of Frosinone-Scalo (70 days) and Milan-Marche (68 days of excesses), which took the black jersey among provincial capitals at the national level.
Of the Campania cities for which PM10 data could be traced through ARPAC bulletins, none exceeded the annual average limit set by Legislative Decree 155 of 2010 (40 μg/m³). The cities with the highest average values and which came very close to the limit, however, were Acerra (39,5 μg/m³), San Vitaliano (36,2 μg/m³), Pomigliano D'Arco (35,2 μg/m³), Teverola (33,5 μg/m³), Aversa (32,5 μg/m³) and Maddaloni (31,9 μg/m³).
To understand the enormous delay we have accumulated, just consider that for PM10, among the cities analyzed in this report, a full 85% of them currently exceed the new limits set for 2030 (20 μg/m³ as an annual average). To date, in Campania, among the cities analyzed, only four are within the established limits (Portici, Polla, Pratella, Presenzano ).
The remaining cities will have to reduce their PM10 concentrations by between 20% and 49% by 2030, with critical situations in Acerra (49% reduction by 2030), San Vitaliano (45% reduction), and Pomigliano D'Arco (43%). Among the provincial capitals, the most critical situation is in Naples, where PM10 concentrations will have to be reduced by 29% compared to the 2030 limits.
Regarding PM2.5, 21 cities in Campania were considered where data from ARPAC monitoring stations have always been available. In Campania, in 2024, the annual average PM2.5 values at all monitoring stations are below the limit of 25 μg/m³. Teverola, with 23,1 μg/m³ , is very close to the current legal limit of 25. Among provincial capitals, the most critical situations are recorded in Avellino and Naples, with an annual average of 14,6 μg/m³. Looking ahead to 2030, the situation is critical in Teverola, where a 56% reduction is expected to meet the new legal limits, followed by Aversa (51%), Casoria (48%).
For NO2, 29 cities in Campania were considered, where data from ARPAC monitoring stations have always been available. Only Teverola, with 42,1 µg/m3, exceeds the regulatory reference value of 40 µg/m3. The situation is critical for Naples, where the monitoring stations at the Naples National Archaeological Museum, Naples Railway Station, and Naples Santobono Hospital measured annual average limits above 40 µg/m3. The 2030 horizon for nitrogen dioxide is critical for Teverola (53% reduction by 2030), Naples (50% reduction by 2030), Maddaloni (41% reduction), and Acerra (40% reduction).
