Milan, Italy—In the heart of Italy’s finance and fashion capital, residents are grappling with escalating pollution levels that are affecting their health and quality of life. Pietro De Luca, a father of three living in Milan’s eastern Città Studi district, contemplates moving to a cleaner city to protect his family’s well-being.
“It stinks! I smell a constant stench of smog, I cough, I feel my throat burning,” De Luca expressed, highlighting the daily challenges faced by many locals.
Data from the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service and Italian environmental group Legambiente reveal that Milan’s levels of fine particulates and other pollutants rank among the highest in Europe. The alarming statistics have prompted some residents to wear face masks outdoors to reduce their exposure to the polluted air.
Roberto Lorenzutti, who previously lived in Milan, noticed a significant improvement in his health after relocating to the island of Sardinia during the COVID-19 pandemic. “In Milan, you have to try and survive in this swamp for five days a week, and get yourself out for the weekend to get a breath of fresh air,” he commented.
In response to the worsening air quality, Milan and surrounding cities in the affluent Lombardy region have implemented measures to limit the use of the most polluting vehicles during peak hours. Milan, a city of just over one million people, lies within the densely populated Po Valley, which houses almost one-third of Italy’s population.
The Po Valley’s 17 million inhabitants make it one of the most polluted areas in Europe. In 2020, Italy was found in breach of EU clean air directives by the EU Court of Justice due to the region’s persistent pollution problems.
Experts attribute the poor air quality to intense agricultural and industrial activities in the valley, compounded by geographical factors that trap pollutants. “The problems are amplified by its geography which traps the air,” explained Valentina Bosetti, a professor of Environmental and Climate Change Economics at Milan’s Bocconi University.
According to Legambiente, Milan’s levels of air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) last year all exceeded the guidelines set by the World Health Organization.
While progress has been made over the past two decades—with a 39% reduction in PM10 concentration and a 45% decrease in NO2—pollution levels remain critically high. “We are very worried, it is evident,” stated Milan environment councillor Elena Eva Maria Grandi, calling for closer cooperation between municipal and regional authorities to evaluate emergency measures. The urgency is heightened as Milan prepares to co-host the Winter Olympics in 2026.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
