Lombardy air pollution costs region 33.4 billion euros annually

An association, Cittadini per l’Aria Ets, has filed a complaint with the Court of Auditors regarding air pollution in Lombardy. The complaint cites a European study estimating that the health and economic costs of PM2.5 pollution in the region amount to 33.4 billion euros annually, representing 7.3% of the regional GDP. This equates to approximately 3,360 euros per citizen.

Direct healthcare expenses, including treatments and hospitalizations, are estimated at 1.4 billion euros per year. The study identifies dementia as the most costly condition at 2.4 billion euros annually, followed by COPD at 899 million euros. The association alleges that the Lombardy Region has failed to meet public health obligations despite previous EU Court of Justice condemnations and ongoing infringement procedures.

In the broader Italian context, the European Environment Agency reported that 43,083 deaths in Italy in 2023 were attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5 concentrations exceeding WHO guidelines. While the mortality rate has decreased by 43.4% since 2005, the Po Valley remains a structurally difficult area for smog control. In Ferrara, while current annual limits for PM10 and PM2.5 are being met, officials warn that meeting stricter upcoming European limits will be significantly more challenging.