Air quality

Air quality in Malpensa area
The atmospheric impact associated with activities of airport systems concerns a number of main emission sources ranging from internal (airport grounds) and external vehicle traffic to emissions from vehicles used for loading/unloading and ground assistance (handling), emissions due to aircraft movements on ground and their LTO (Landing Take Off) cycle.
As airport operator, SEA has no way of affecting air carrier processes, such as the level of technological evolution of fleets and efficiency in terms of emissions, or the option to define routes and in-flight scenarios. It also cannot influence the effects from external vehicular traffic closely related to intermodality level characterizing the local area of each airport.
To ensure the effective control of air quality, the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) of Lombardy monitors the presence of pollutants in the atmosphere throughout regional territory using 158 detection stations.
In province of Varese, air quality detection network consists of 7 fixed stations, 2 mobile stations and 4 gravimetric samplers for measuring fine dust.
Average monthly data, derived from daily values published by ARPA for Malpensa area, are derived from the 3 monitoring stations located in close proximity of airport (Ferno, Lonate Pozzolo, Somma Lombardo) and other units located in the urbanised area (Busto Arsizio, Gallarate, Varese).

Monitoring areas adjacent to Malpensa - Average monthly nitrogen dioxide values (NO₂)

NO₂ Annual limit: 40 μg/m^³ annual average	Ferno μg/m^³	Lonate μg/m^³	Somma Lombardo μg/m^³	Busto Arsizio μg/m^³	Gallarate μg/m^³	Varese μg/m^³
January	41.3	45.7	48.9	53.0	62.1	56.1
February	46.5	48.0	47.7	57.3	68.5	55.7
March	50.0	38.6	37.5	44.0	55.9	51.8
April	26.7	25.0	30.3	28.9	41.4	43.2
May	15.4	19.2	26.2	24.1	31.0	37.2
June	15.7	17.6	18.4	21.9	27.2	34.5
July	14.8	19.8	48.4	23.8	26.6	35.5
August	11.8	21.1	34.5	17.7	24.1	29.0
September	20.8	26.4	39.9	29.7	38.6	34.4
October	30.3	28.3	41.9	31.1	42.0	36.5
November	48.2	45.7	55.8	36.5	53.7	51.4
December	55.8	59.0	62.5	45.4	59.6	56.5

Source: Arpa Lombardia, 2015

Nitrogen oxides in general (NO_X), are produced during combustion processes due to the reaction that occurs at high temperatures between nitrogen and oxygen contained in the air. Therefore, such oxides are emitted directly into atmosphere following all Air quality in Linate area For Linate area, we used data from monitoring stations located in the airport’s close proximity (Limito-Pioltello and Milan-Parco Lambro), in addition to high temperature combustion processes (heating systems, vehicle motors, industrial combustion, power plants, etc.), by atmospheric ozone oxidation and, to a minor extent, by oxidation of nitrogen compounds contained in fuels.

Monitoring areas adjacent to Malpensa - Average monthly particulate values (PM10)

PM10 Annual limit: 40 µg/m³ annual average	Ferno µg/m³	Busto Arsizio µg/m³	Gallarate µg/m³	Varese µg/m³
January	39	44	46	34
February	41	47	45	36
March	38	38	40	39
April	24	21	24	24
May	19	18	23	20
June	20	19	21	20
July	26	24	26	26
August	19	18	19	19
September	17	14	16	17
October	29	27	33	26
November	46	45	50	38
December	68	73	77	55

Source: Arpa Lombardia, 2015

Air quality in Linate area
For Linate area, we used data from monitoring stations located in the airport’s close proximity (Limito-Pioltello and Milan-Parco Lambro), in addition to other monitoring stations in urban areas (Milan-Città Studi. Milan-Marche. Monza. Vimercate).

Monitoring areas adjacent to Linate - Average monthly nitrogen dioxide values (NO₂)

NO₂ Annual limit: 40 µg/m³ annual average	Limito Pioltello µg/m³	MI Città studi µg/m³	Monza µg/m³	Vimercate µg/m³	MI Parco Lambro µg/m³	MI Marche µg/m³
January	49.7	61.2	59.4	59.0	71.2	91.4
February	52.0	61.2	58.8	57.8	74.8	99.3
March	41.6	49.2	45.4	42.3	55.7	90.7
April	29.2	34.3	38.0	33.0	32.2	76.2
May	26.7	28.6	29.4	23.4	20.1	57.6
June	26.8	28.4	27.2	21.8	22.2	57.0
July	22.9	23.2	26.4	21.6	20.3	47.5
August	23.5	29.5	26.2	16.8	27.1	46.7
September	35.4	33.6	39.7	23.8	30.4	84.1
October	48.1	51.0	46.6	26.1	37.9	86.4
November	68.5	66.8	70.4	-	56.3	86.8
December	71.3	66.3	96.6	71.5	65.8	80.2

Source: Arpa Lombardia, 2015

Monitoring areas adjacent to Linate - Average monthly particulate values (PM10)

PM10 Annual limit: 40 µg/m³ annual average	Limito Pioltello µg/m³	Mi - Città studi µg/m³	Monza µg/m³	Vimercate µg/m³
January	56	58	57	58
February	56	60	50	55
March	38	43	46	48
April	23	31	27	28
May	24	26	24	24
June	25	27	23	25
July	27	36	26	29
August	24	22	23	25
September	22	23	20	21
October	40	36	33	32
November	59	64	52	53
December	77	83	84	87

Source: Arpa Lombardia, 2015

Overall, on the basis of extensive data gathered at the areas adjacent to the two Milan airports over the years, we noted that while airports are an important source of emissions, there is no significant difference in air quality around the airport compared to other areas of the provincial territory.