Smog alert in the Po Valley:Can you train outdoors?Are masks necessary?The expert's answers

What can individual citizens do when faced with such high levels of air pollution?We asked Alessandro Miani, president of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine

In the Po Valley the air has been unbreathable for decades, but these days it is even more so than usual.Satellite images from the European Copernicus service speak of "worrying" levels of air pollution, which exceed the thresholds set at national and European level by up to four times.This is a situation that the citizens of Northern Italy now find themselves having to deal with cyclically.The latest report from the European Environment Agency shows that it is Italy itself that records the highest number of premature deaths linked to air pollution:in 2022 there were over 63 thousand.But what can individual citizens do when faced with such high levels of air pollution?Are there any activities that are best avoided?Is staying at home good for you?We asked Alessandro Miani, president of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (Sima).

How serious is the situation?

«The situation has been serious for decades, not for a few days.Italy continues to be first in Europe for premature deaths due to air pollution.The Po Valley, in particular, has the most polluted air in all of Europe.It is not his specific fault, because this situation is also due to the orographic conformation:the presence of the Alps in the north and the Apennines in the south, combined with the low windiness, create great atmospheric stability".

Why has air pollution reached such high levels these days?

«This year we had a particularly dry winter.The lack of rain and the absence of strong winds makes it difficult for dispersed pollutants to fall to the ground.These two factors have had a very negative impact on the data published by Copernicus.We have had many more violations of the legal limits on fine particles than in recent years."

What can you do to protect yourself outside the home?

«An Ffp2 mask can offer a minimum level of protection, especially for those who travel by bike or already suffer from respiratory diseases.But when faced with the finest dust, the effect of the mask is almost non-existent."

Are there any activities to avoid?

«It is certainly better not to do sports or take children for a walk during peak traffic hours.If you really want to go for a jog, it is better to avoid busy streets, do it in an area as green as possible and above all away from peak traffic times, therefore early in the morning or late in the evening.It is also true, however, that with the data we record in recent days the situation changes only relatively.The lack of rain leaves pollutants dispersed in the air for longer periods."

Is staying at home as much as possible a good solution?

«On average, pollution indoors it's five times higher than the outside, so I'd say it's not a great idea.The ideal would be to equip yourself with dual flow mechanical ventilation tools or air purifiers, both at home and in the workplace.These are scientifically validated instruments, which have real reliability."

For years, Italy has been the European country with the highest number of premature deaths due to air pollution.What exactly are these deaths due to?

«The first cause of death is represented by heart attacks and strokes, therefore pathologies that involve the cardiovascular system.This happens because fine particles are pro-inflammatory, in the sense that they generate permanent inflammation which can then lead to strokes, heart attacks or lung cancers, which in fact represent the third cause of these premature deaths."

What are the other effects of air pollution on health?

«There are many pathologies.The main ones are the so-called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD), which affect the respiratory system and are initially asymptomatic.But air pollution leads to an increase in cases of asthma, allergies and bronchitis.But the consequences are also felt at other levels.In Italy, one in 77 children is born with neurodevelopmental delay and one in 55 with an autism spectrum disorder.In many cases this is due to what the children themselves but also the parents breathe in the three months before conception."

Why isn't air pollution treated as a health emergency?

«In reality the situation is even more serious than it seems.The limits imposed today by law in Italy and the EU are already four times higher than those that the WHO indicates as protective of health, at least as regards fine particles.This means that if we exceed even those limits we are creating highly unhealthy and dangerous environments.Even if there is no direct and immediate effect, various diseases can develop over the years.Then there is also an economic question:According to some economists' calculations, air pollution in Italy affects direct healthcare costs by around 10% of GDP.The WHO said it clearly:Air pollution is the first health emergency of environmental origin in the world."

Cover photo:ANSA/Matteo Bazzi | A chimney in the Porta Nuova area, in the background the Bosco Verticale (Milan, 8 January 2020)