Over the last hundred years, global chemical production has grown exponentially, from 1 million tonnes in 1930 to several hundred million tonnes today. The European Union (EU) is the second largest producer in the world after China, and it is estimated that over 100,000 chemical substances are present on the European market. Italy, with a production value exceeding 66 billion euros, is the third largest producer in Europe after Germany and France, and the twelfth globally. Around 2,800 chemical companies operate in Italy, employing more than 112,000 people, although chemical products are used in all production sectors.

The European regulation on chemical substances is likely the most ambitious in the world, aiming to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment. The main reference regulations are REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging). Responsibility for the safe management of chemicals lies primarily with the companies that manufacture, import, or use them. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the competent authorities of EU Member States monitor company compliance and can intervene with specific measures if risks to human health or the environment are not properly controlled. Through regulatory process monitoring, the indicator provides elements to assess progress in achieving safety objectives set by the legislation.

The indicator allows to identify the number of establishments, by regional and provincial scope, divided by category, based on the obligations established by the legislation to which the managers of the establishments are subject. As of 31 December 2024, the total number of establishments considered dangerous for the purposes of a major accident, present in Italy, is equal to 933. Compared to December 2023, where the number of establishments was equal to 944, a reduction is noted (11 less). With regard to the distribution of the notified establishments on the national territory, the situation remains almost unchanged, approximately a quarter is concentrated in Lombardy and in regions with a high presence of industries such as: Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna. In almost all Italian provinces there is at least one establishment at risk of a major accident.

The indicator allows to identify the areas where there is a particular concentration of establishments at risk of major accidents, providing useful information for land planning, in particular for the destination and use of land. In 2024, the municipalities in which there are 4 or more RIR (Risk of Major Accident) establishments are 29, distributed in 12 regions: approximately 1/4 of the establishments at risk of major accidents in Italy are located in them. The regions in which the largest number of these municipalities are found are: Sicily (5 municipalities), Lazio (4 municipalities), Lombardy (4 municipalities) and Piedmont (4 municipalities). Among the municipalities characterized by the presence of a high number of establishments, Ravenna stands out with 26 establishments and Genoa with 13 establishments, followed by Trecate with 10, Naples and Venice with 9, Filago with 8 and Augusta, Anagni, Catania and Livorno with 7 establishments.

The indicator analyses the type of substances or categories of dangerous substances/mixtures most widespread in establishments at risk of major accidents, present on the national territory and declared by the managers of the establishments subject to Legislative Decree 105/2015. Among the categories of dangerous substances (Annex 1 - part 1 of Legislative Decree 105/2015) most widespread in quantitative terms, those belonging to Section “P” - Physical hazards, in particular flammable liquids, are found. Also very widespread are substances dangerous for the environment that fall into the danger category “E” - Dangers for the environment. The regions with the greatest presence of toxic substances are Lombardy and Sardinia followed by Emilia Romagna and Piedmont. While the region with the greatest quantities of flammable substances is Sicily, followed by Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy and Sardinia. There is a significant presence, distributed throughout the Italian territory, of flammable liquefied gases and natural gases (LPG and methane) and petroleum products.

The indicator analyses the distribution on the national territory of all industrial activities according to the categories defined in Legislative Decree 105/2015 for establishments at risk of major accidents. The analysis of the types of establishments allows us to define, albeit qualitatively, a mapping of industrial risk in our country. The legislation divides establishments into 38 categories of activities plus a thirty-ninth category (other) including all activities not included in the previous ones, based on the NACE code, a general classification system used to systematise and standardise the definitions of economic/industrial activities in the various Member States of the European Union. In particular, as of 31 December 2024, the total number of establishments at risk of major accidents is 933, with a slight decrease of 11 units compared to December 2023. As regards the type of activities present on the national territory, there is a prevalence of "LPG storage" depots and "chemical plants". Next come the so-called "Other activities, not specified", the "fuel storage" depots and the "production, bottling and wholesale distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)" establishments. Together, these constitute approximately 50% of the total establishments. Next come the "treatment of metals by electrolytic or chemical processes", the "production of pharmaceutical products" and the "production, destruction and storage of explosives". Next come the "manufacture of chemical substances (not otherwise specified in the list)", the "production and storage of pesticides, biocides and fungicides" and the "storage, treatment and disposal of waste".

The European Farm to Fork strategy sets two targets to be achieved by 2030: a 50% reduction in the use and risk of chemical pesticides and a 50% reduction in the use of the most hazardous pesticides. To measure progress towards these targets, two indicators have been defined based on the sales of active substances contained in plant protection products and the hazardous properties of these substances. The indicators described represent the European and national trends in progress towards the pesticide reduction goals of the Farm to Fork strategy. In 2022, the use and risk of chemical pesticides showed a 36% decrease at the European level compared to the 2015-2017 baseline period. For Italy, the reduction exceeds the European target, reaching 53%, with a 10 percentage point decrease in the last year. Regarding the use of the most hazardous pesticides, the national decrease in 2022 was faster than the European one, amounting to a 34% reduction compared to the European 25% (relative to the 2015-2017 period).

The indicator allows for the assessment of surface and groundwater contamination by pesticide residues released into the environment. Monitoring pesticide presence in water is complex due to the number of substances involved and their diffuse use. Measured levels are compared with the concentration limits established by current regulations. The presented indicators provide an analysis of the evolution of contamination over the 2012–2021 decade, in terms of the frequency of pesticide detection in water, as well as the environmental risks arising from their use. Data from 2021 confirm a state of contamination already reported in previous years, with exceedances of legal limits particularly in surface waters (28.3% of monitoring points); in groundwater, 6.8% of points exceed regulatory limits.