Marina Vitullo
The indicator represents the trend of national emissions of particulate matter (PM10) by sector of origin from 1990 to 2024, highlighting a marked reduction over the years on a total level (-48.3%). The road transport sector, which contributes to total emissions with an emission share of 10.7% in 2024, presents a reduction of 67.7% over the entire period. Emissions from non-industrial combustion, in the same period, grew by 5.2%, representing the most important sector in 2024 with 39.6% of total emissions.
Dusts smaller than 10 µm have both natural and anthropogenic origins. The natural origin can be traced back to soil erosion, marine aerosol, the production of biogenic aerosol (plant fragments, pollen, spores), volcanic emissions and long-distance transport of sand. A substantial part of the dust present in the atmosphere has a secondary origin and is due to the reaction of gaseous compounds such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ammonia and organic compounds. Furthermore, the constituents of the dust include compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Dusts, especially in their smaller dimensional fraction, have considerable health relevance due to their high ability to penetrate the respiratory tract. The estimates made relate only to emissions of primary origin, while those of secondary origin are not calculated, as are those due to the resuspension of dust deposited on the ground.
Evaluate the trend over time of PM10 emissions (particles smaller than 10 µm) disaggregated by sector, relevant for monitoring the effectiveness of emission reduction regulations with particular attention to urban areas.
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP, 1979) Presidential Decree 203/88 DM 12 July 1990 Legislative Decree no. 152/2006 Legislative Decree no. 128/2010 Legislative Decree no. 46/2014 Directive (EU) 2015/2193 Directive 2010/75/EU EC Regulation 715/2007 EC Regulation 595/2009 As part of the UNECE Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution (CLRTAP), Italy is required to update and annually communicate the national inventory of polluting emissions into the atmosphere, which includes, among the various pollutants, including PM10. In the energy and industrial sectors, Presidential Decree 203/88 establishes the rules for the authorization of plants and the Ministerial Decree of 12 July 1990 introduces emission limits for plants. The national reference legislation for the protection of the air and the reduction of emissions into the atmosphere is Legislative Decree 3 April 2006, n. 152 (“Environmental regulations”, part five). The Decree was subsequently updated by Legislative Decree 128/2010 and underwent further changes following the entry into force of Legislative Decree no. 4 March 2014. 46. Numerous regulations limit dust emissions in certain sectors, in particular road transport and industry. As regards stationary sources, Directive 2010/75/EU indicates the particulate emission limit values for solid, liquid and gaseous fuels in large combustion plants. For medium combustion plants, Directive (EU) 2015/2193 also establishes rules for the control of dust emissions into the air, in order to reduce potential risks to human health and the environment. For mobile sources, the most recent provisions regarding emissions of particulate matter derive from EC Regulation 715/2007 relating to the approval of motor vehicles with regard to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and from EC Regulation 595/2009 relating to the approval of motor vehicles and engines with regard to emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (Euro VI).
ISPRA, 2026. Italian Emission Inventory 1990-2024. Information Inventory Report 2026. ( https://www. isprambiente. gov. it/it/pubblicazioni/rapporti/italian-emission-inventory-1990-2024-informative-inventory-report-2026 ).
ISPRA
ISPRA data from the national inventory of atmospheric emissions used ( https://emissioni. sina. isprambiente. it/economia-nazionale/ ).
National, Regional
1990-2024
Estimate calculated as part of the creation of the national inventory of atmospheric emissions. For air pollutants the methodology used is that indicated by the European Environment Agency (EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 2023). For the description of the estimation methodology, reference is made to the Information Inventory Report – IIR (https://www. isprambiente. gov. it/it/pubblicazioni/rapporti/; https://www. ceip. at/status-of-reporting-and-review-results/2026-submission
PM10 emission levels are equal to approximately 180 kt in 2024, reducing by 2.3% compared to 2023. This decrease is mainly due to emissions from non-industrial combustion which contribute to approximately 40% of PM10 emissions and which decrease by 5%, also thanks to favorable climatic conditions. (Table 1).
National PM10 emissions are reduced in the period 1990-2024 by 48.3%, outlining a positive trend from an environmental point of view (Table 1).
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Table 1: National PM10 emissions by source sector Fonte
ISPRA Legenda
A: Combustion in energy production and transformation industries B: Non-industrial combustion C: Industrial combustion D: Production processes E: Extraction and distribution of fossil fuels / geothermal energy F: Use of solvents G: Road transport H: Other mobile sources I: Waste treatment and disposal L: Agriculture Note
Emission values have been updated in line with the annual update of the national emission inventory. |
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Figure 1: National PM10 emissions by source sector Fonte
ISPRA Note
Emission values have been updated in line with the annual update of the national emission inventory. |
National emissions are calculated in accordance with the estimation methodology adopted at European level and reported in the EMEP/EEA Air pollutant emission inventory guidebook – 2023. Emissions from natural sources (other emission sources and absorptions) are not counted in the totals in accordance with the classification adopted in the estimate of emissions in the national inventory. In the period 1990-2024, the road transport sector shows a decrease of 67.7% and contributes to total emissions with an emission share of 11% in 2024. Emissions from non-industrial combustion grow by 5.2%, due to the increase in wood combustion for residential heating, representing the most important sector in 2024 with 39.6% of total emissions. The other combustion processes record significant drops in particulate emissions. In particular, emissions deriving from combustion for energy production and in the transformation industry decreased by 99.2%, representing only 0.2% of total emissions in 2024, compared to an average of over 12% until 1996. Emissions from combustion processes in industry fell by 76.5%, reaching a weight on the total equal to 3.6% in 2024. The reductions found in the energy sectors and industry are mainly due to the introduction of two regulatory instruments: Presidential Decree 203/88 which establishes the rules for the authorization of plants and the Ministerial Decree of 12 July 1990, which introduces emission limits for plants. In 2024, emissions from agricultural activities, production processes and other mobile sources will account for 11.3%, 20.4% and 4.8% of the total respectively, with decreases since 1990 of -37.3%, -47.6% and -72.4% respectively. Emissions linked to the treatment and disposal of waste have increased by 29.9% since 1990, reaching a share of total emissions of 5.2% in 2024 (Table 1, Figure 1).