"Compared to previous years, the island is witnessing a decrease in pollution, with a prevalent reduction in the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and, to a lesser extent, of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)". '' Regional Councilor for Environmental Defense, Gianni Lampis, commenting on the annual report on air quality in Sardinia for 2020, prepared by Arpas (Regional Agency for Environmental Protection in Sardinia) on the basis of data analysis coming from the regional measurement network.
According to Lampis, the improvement in air quality is “mainly due to the restrictions imposed on citizens, including the lockdown, due to the health emergency. In fact, the decrease in the concentrations of atmospheric pollutants is more significant in the major urban centers ".
THE DATA - According to the data provided by the Department, in the agglomeration of Cagliari and in the urban area of Sassari and Olbia, the situation is normal for all pollutants monitored, without violating legal limits. The significant reduction in concentrations of NO2, a pollutant mainly attributable to vehicle emissions, occurred above all in April, up to 57% compared to the previous year. While, as regards PM10, the trend towards a reduction in values is less marked (up to 19%) than in 2019, but it should be noted that "the limitations have less impacted the use of heating systems, the main source of this pollutant ".
In the industrial areas (Assemini-Macchiareddu, Sarroch, Portoscuso and Porto Torres), the recorded situation is "moderate compared to the context, in some cases even slightly reduced for various parameters and within the norm for all pollutants monitored" underlined Lampis.
"In the Sarroch area there is a criticality related to benzene, although in the absence of exceedances, with an annual average high compared to the values recorded in the rest of the territory of Sardinia - reads the report - accompanied by numerous episodes characterized by hourly peaks and daily sustained. In general the recorded situation is moderate compared to the considerable emission context of the area and within the norm for all the pollutants monitored ".
CRITICALITIES - Among the criticalities, in the Assemini area, characterized by the typical problems of both urban agglomerations and industrial settlements, the highest levels of sulfur dioxide affect, while in the Sarroch area there is a high concentration of benzene, with a significant annual average compared to any other territory of the island. Finally, in the other areas of Sardinia, all included in the rural area, the monitored parameters remain stable and well within the limits with particulate levels generally contained and with limited exceedances.
"Air pollution represents one of the main risk factors for health, not only for humans, but also for animals and vegetation. In fact, air quality risks being compromised by anthropogenic emissions (traffic, domestic heating) or natural. The monitoring of air quality, the inventory of pollutant emissions and the estimation techniques guide the Region to evaluate the most effective measures and actions for compliance with air quality standards ", concludes the exponent of the Executive.
(Unioneonline / vl)
