This animation shows hourly concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter with an average diameter of 10 micrometres or less) across the Po Valley from 1 January to 31 January 2024.

PM10 plays a pivotal role in the air quality dynamics of the Po Valley. Comprising various particles like dust, pollen and combustion byproducts, PM10 is inhalable and can impact respiratory health. The valley's unique topography and meteorological conditions contribute to the accumulation of PM10 – particularly during stagnant weather patterns.

According to EU directives and legal standards, concentrations of PM10 exceeding 50 μg/m³ are deemed dangerous, and this threshold should not be surpassed for any location for a specified number of days annually, typically set at 35 days.

However, recent observations indicate that in January 2024, there have been multiple instances where this critical threshold was exceeded – highlighting a concerning trend in air quality fluctuations. This trend, although not unusual for January, raises notable concerns for environmental health.

Despite the prevalent air pollution in the Po Valley, levels of air pollutants above EU standards are consistently observed across Europe with the region regularly surpassing its annual average concentrations of fine particulate matter, as reported by the  European Environmental Agency (EEA). This raises notable concerns for environmental health.

Read the full article.