Abstract
The lower Po Valley in northern Italy presents critical issues that impact human health. This geographical area is one of the most polluted in Europe, with increased concentrations of CO2, PM10 and PM2.5, nitrous oxide (NO2), and ozone (O3), which promote respiratory infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neoplasms, degenerative neurological diseases, toxicity during pregnancy as well as the main environmental risk factor for human health and ecosystems.
The entire Po Valley is affected by excessive livestock farming (pigs, cattle, and chickens), the spread of sludge and gypsum on agricultural land, numerous landfills, including those containing toxic and harmful substances, a reduction in water availability, and an exponential increase in urban development, causing heat islands and climate change. Urban temperatures are approximately 0.6–3.9°C higher than surrounding areas, and nighttime temperatures are approximately 1.1–2.8°C.
All this is altering the environmental matrices of Earth, Water and Air with ever-increasing risks to human health.