Fine dust but not only, these are the pollutants we breathe every day

There are many different types of pollutants in the air that can cause damage to the respiratory tract:Altroconsumo's survey takes stock

ROME – What are the main pollutants in the air we breathe every day?This question was answered by an Altroconsumo analysis from which it emerged first of all the particulate matter, fine powders which with their microscopic dimensions allow deep inhalation into the respiratory tract, causing cardiovascular and respiratory problems.It's actually about a mix of powders which mostly derives from human activities:industrial processes, construction and certainly vehicle traffic.Speaking of particulate matter, the role of the black carbon which is mainly contained in the fine fraction of particulate matter (PM2.5) and is emitted as a residue of any combustion process.Epidemiological studies provide sufficient evidence of the association between the onset of cardiopulmonary pathologies and mortality with exposure to black carbon.

SECONDARY POLLUTANTS

Then there are nitrogen oxides, whose origin is linked to high temperature combustion, such as that which occurs in car engines, and which can lead to the production of secondary pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, the most feared because it irritates the respiratory system.Nitrogen oxides also contribute to the formation of acid rain and have important consequences on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.In the end, ammonia, a gas with a pungent, irritating and toxic odor, which contributes to the formation of secondary particulate and which is generated mainly from agricultural activities, but not only.

SOURCES OF POLLUTION

From the Altroconsumo analysis it emerges that there are mainly two sources of pollution in the city: traffic and, in winter, too heating of houses.To date, it is estimated that approximately 3 out of 4 Italians live in a polluted area, in which there is a concentration of fine dust exceeding the limits established for health protection.In 2023, there were 58 cities in which the average concentration of fine particles exceeded the reference limit of 10 micrograms per m3, but even worse situations were recorded, in which double the limit was exceeded:in the first months of 2023, Cremona was the worst province, followed by Monza, Milan, Mantua and Padua.

But what can be done to stem this phenomenon?The objective is to reduce emissions into the atmosphere and, where it is no longer possible to reduce, apply adaptation and compensation tools.Pollution reduction actions can be individual or collective:decide to give up the private car to travel by public transport is an individual choice, which however can only be taken if public transport is available (which, however, is a political choice).Furthermore, the impact of a single person who chooses to travel by bike is decidedly smaller than that of a city that is redesigned on a personal scale rather than car-sized, or compared to that of an automotive company that decided to convert its production to vehicles with a lower environmental impact.

If you finally decide to replace your fireplace with a latest generation pellet stove or with a solar thermal heating system, one's individual impact would certainly be reduced;however, air quality would not significantly improve unless the transition to cleaner energy sources was made at a community level, for example through the creation of an energy community.By joining the new "Committed to change" platform, Altroconsumo intends to further unite the forces of citizens, institutions and businesses, to promote a new individual and collective responsibility.