Environmental Pollution in Italy Essay Sample

Environmental pollution has been a hot topic for decades across the world and people are constantly looking for ways to reduce their negative impacts on the environment. Every country faces pollutants and has to construct combatting solutions in order to preserve the environment and the health of its citizens, and Italy is no different. The pollution in Italy has been steadily increasing up until the pandemic, but because the lockdown has ended, one question remains: How will the level of pollution be affected now that the lockdown in Italy has ended? The air pollution in Italy is at a dangerous level and solutions must be found in order to preserve its environment and health of its citizens. 

Background

The World Health Organization describes the issues currently faced by Italy, “Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere”(). There is an urgency to discovering the main pollutants in Italy and finding solutions that are affordable and attainable. 

Importantly, air pollution in Italy is at a high level and risks the health of everyone living in the country. Research has been completed by many environmentalist organizations and the findings have been distributed. However, air pollution in Italy has not been correctly dealt with. According to an article published in August of 2021,“ ... Northern Italy, including big cities like Milan and Turin, has some of the worst pollution in all of Europe”(thelocal.it). This is staggering when considering the size of these cities in respect to larger populations of people across the continent. The air pollution in Italy needs to be combatted because of its prevalence and impact on human health. 

From the outside, air pollution seems to be on a downward trend. However, Italy has been facing issues for years- issues that cannot be combatted overnight. In fact, “United Nations sources estimate that carbon monoxide emissions increased by 12% in the period between 1985 and 1989. In the 1990s Italy had the world's tenth highest level of industrial carbon dioxide emissions, which totaled 407.7 million metric tons per year, a per capita level of 7.03 metric tons”(). For a country of Italy’s size and standing, ranking tenth for CO2 emissions seems to be unrealistically pessimistic. Also, the 12% increase in a four year period shows the obvious ignorance of the set European regulations that are meant to control pollution levels.

Air pollution is notoriously unhealthy for inhabitants. So, when research has proven that Italy is in the red concerning air pollution, more attention should be turned to history and prevention.“A 2006 World Health Organization report found significant levels of air pollution (particle size 10 μm or less is PM10) in Italian cities ranged from 26.3 to 61.1 milligrams per cubic meter”(). Many reputable sources can back up this claim in order to prove that the amount of air pollution in Italy is malicious and unforgiving of the living beings inhabiting the country. Knowing the negativity behind air pollution and the presence of it in Italy, one must research the causation of pollution. 

Reasons

In countries like Italy where housing and companies are in confined areas, pollutants are in excess and dangerous. Large cities like Milan and Taranto are swarming with air pollution from traffic and unregulated manufacturers. According to AZoCleantech, a scientific research based platform aimed at informing engineers and industry professionals about clean technology, “Traffic stations continue to have high particulate concentrations”(). Traffic is one of the biggest causes of air pollution in Italy. Traffic fumes release harsh chemicals and these chemicals produce greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming. While air pollution caused by traffic is a big issue in Italy, domestic heating must be taken into account.

Manufacturing plants in Italy are another example of a concerning factor of air pollution. There is proof of a “... large steel manufacturing plant in Taranto, Italy, [that] is emblematic of the country’s issues concerning industrial emissions”(). The study goes on to explain that Italy’s government has been practically ignoring the emissions regulations practiced by European nations.  Manufacturing plants blow chemical vapors and smoke through smokestacks, clouding the air with harmful pollutants. 

Health Effects

Air pollution is one of the most pressing matters in Italy due to its severity and health effects. Notoriously bad for people living in populated areas, air pollution can cause various health issues. LifeGate, an Italian based benefit corporation, discusses the issues faced by Italy, saying,“Despite continuous improvements in recent decades, air pollution in Italy still represents a great concern as prescribed legal limits for main pollutant concentrations (in particular PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, PAHs, NOX) are repeatedly being exceeded, both in cities and in rural areas”().  An excess of these pollutants lead to harmful effects on the lungs of everyone breathing these particulates. Considering the legal level of these pollutants are being surpassed “repeatedly,” it should not be surprising to hear of the travesty caused by the smog devouring Italy.  

The air pollution in Italy is at such a high level, it is dangerous for inhabitants to breathe. “What's particularly troublesome is particle pollution that pervades Italy, and accounts for breathing and heart problems, causing a whopping 9% of deaths of Italians over the age of 30”(). The fact that air pollution is the cause of so many deaths just points to the issue with the flawed protection of the Italian government. The European Environment Agency adds to this issue by estimating 66,000 deaths annually because of pollutants in Italy. This issue needs immediate attention because of the people living in Italy. The negative impact caused by a superfluous amount of unwanted pollutants should be warrant enough to cause impactful changes of policy. 

Suggested Solutions

Solutions to air pollution seem to be a pressing matter across the globe, especially in Italy. Although many solutions have been proposed, they are often pricey or not effective enough. Most of the solutions in Italy currently target decreasing automobile use. “In April, Milan announced it was transforming 35km of road space into cycle lanes and wider pavements. The potential for improvements in air quality was huge, because Milan has suffered for years from high pollution levels”(). Milan is not the only Italian city to take initiative. Turin also introduced traffic restrictions in 2017. According to the CCAC, Italy is also exploring low impact fuel alternatives along with eco-friendly vehicles. For now, the approach on slowing air pollution is considered effective. 

The attention that was demanded by the negative impact of air pollution in Italy has made much of the country create extravagant attempts to contain the issues faced by pollution. In order to demand respect on environmental issues in Europe,“...Italy pushed for higher recycling targets and progress toward the complete elimination of EU landfills, green job growth and the tighter control of emissions from medium-sized combustion plants”(). They have also seen improvement when they “...made a major push toward embracing solar energy technology”(). These new attempts at adapting to green energy will be continuously productive at stalling and combating air pollution if used correctly and consistently. 

Conclusions

Air pollution in Italy is a serious issue. Its main causes are emissions from automobiles and the dangerous chemicals that enter into the atmosphere released from the smokestacks of manufacturing plants. The possible health risks of breathing polluted air are well-known, and a large percentage of premature deaths are caused by pollution.