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/m³ annual average | Ferno μg/m³ | Lonate μg/m³ | Somma Lombardo μg/m³ | Busto Arsizio μg/m³ | Gallarate μg/m³ | Varese μg/m³ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 (NOX), 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.