English articles
Francesca Albanese sotto sanzioni Usa. Banca Etica non può aprire il conto, ma chiede alla politica un impegno
24 settembre 2025
“See? This is what we breathe in every day”. Mauro, a resident of the San Teodoro neighborhood in Genoa, is pointing to the black smoke coming out of the funnel of a giant cruise ship leaving one of Italy’s largest ports. Although the quay is one kilometer away, the smell of fumes and the incessant noise of running engines have always been part of the daily life in the neighborhood, as has disease: “Out of 120 families, we’ve had 33 deaths from cancer in 35 years”. For a year now, however, resignation has turned into action: Mauro and his wife Gabriella, together with other citizens and local associations, began documenting the fumes with photographs on Facebook and measuring emissions with small devices hung outside their balconies. “We shouldn’t have to fight to breathe”, says lawyer Anna Gerometta, president of the NGO “Cittadini per l’aria” (Citizens for the air) that brings together similar citizen science initiatives across Italy. “This should be done by public authorities”.
Genoa shares the fate of many other European port cities, where maritime traffic and the industries often concentrated in those areas are essential to the local economy, but at the same time cause severe air pollution which impacts citizens’ health
Genoa shares the fate of many other European port cities, where maritime traffic and the industries often concentrated in those areas are essential to the local economy, but at the same time cause severe air pollution which impacts citizens’ health. Sulphur and nitrogen oxides resulting from fossil fuel combustion can contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, while fine particulate matter can even enter the bloodstream and cause systemic damages to the organs, as proved by the World Health Organization.
Legislation on this matter is not lacking. Last December, the new European Union air quality directive entered into force, lowering the limit values for pollutants and requiring member States to comply by 2030. “The authorized levels are still too high compared to what the WHO recommends and there is a loophole for ‘zones where conditions are particularly difficult’ to postpone the deadline compliance”, says Sönke Diesener, policy officer at NABU, Germany's largest environmental NGO which has been monitoring port pollution for more than a decade. “Anyways, it will be still very ambitious for port cities to get down to those levels. The problem is that we are lacking control and enforcement”.
That is where citizen science steps in. This cross-border investigation sheds light on grassroots initiatives in port areas in the Netherlads, Italy, and Albania, where local communities are independently monitoring pollution and using the results to pressure authorities.
On June 1999, Marina Bellinazzo, a citizen of Genoa, wrote to the Office for Environmental Protection and the Harbour Master's Office: “I wish to report the air pollution caused for several hours and almost every day by emissions and smoke from passenger ships and container ships docked at various piers in the port and at Calata Sanità”. She lists the ships, recalls the regulations to which ships should comply, and concludes: "All this in defence of the health of the citizens". Twenty-five years later, with the same determination, 17 associations in the city, particularly in the San Teodoro district, have formed a network to continue to demand accountability for air quality. From the balconies of their homes, they can see the sea, cruise ships and ferries.
Dissatisfied with the work of the institutions that are supposed to monitor and lower pollution levels, a group of them became “Air Watchers” and every day they look out of their windows or go to the harbour and take photos of ships emitting black smoke while in port. In addition to this type of activity, they are committed to providing data to the local administration and the environmental protection agency. Thus, by bringing together the professional skills of the association members, each has contributed their own expertise.
When we meet with representatives of associations in the San Teodoro neighbourhood, they show us studies that, over the years, have highlighted the risks of such intense exposure to fumes from moored ships. "The port", we read in a 2018 publication in a magazine for doctors and dentists, "is, after healthcare, the field that offers the highest employment rate in Genoa, obviously considering all related industries. But it is absolutely urgent that this activity be carried out with respect for the environment and the health of all Genoa's citizens”. The trade-off between work and health in the city is still an issue that needs to be addressed. ‘It's a bit difficult to talk about it with those who live in our own spaces, our city,’ comments Eliana Pastorino, the network's spokesperson. ‘But we want to make people aware that the air they are breathing is not always good.’
In order to compare the data with official figures and to implement the monitoring system, the activists have purchased Radielli, professional devices for monitoring air quality. These devices are so light that they can even be attached to clothing. In this case, they have been hung on balconies so that they are exposed to pollution from the port. "The work we have done complements that of the institutions", adds Federico Valerio, another member of the group. "We have mapped pollution and the most exposed areas. We then share a daily air quality bulletin: wind, rain, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, and then vehicular and naval traffic". This update is posted on Facebook.
In Genoa, activists built a constructive dialogue with the Port's Authority, which has increased inspections on ships
Many goals have been achieved in recent years: positive feedback from the Harbour Master's Office has led to more inspections on ships, including on direct reports from the Sentinels, while the region's Ombudsman has also become involved. The municipal council, which took office a few months ago, has also participated in some committee meetings. Some limitations remain. First of all, the voluntary work of citizens cannot replace the shortcomings of public actors involved in public health; then there is the more difficult dialogue with the regional administration, with President Marco Bucci, who was previously mayor of Genoa.
Finally, there is an important issue regarding port innovation: with EU funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, part of the port of Genoa is being electrified, with work scheduled for completion on 31 December 2025. Then it will be necessary to determine who will supply the electricity and at what price. This will allow cruise ships to connect directly to the port without having to remain powered up for the entire time they are docked. This is a turning point for the health of Genoa's citizens.
In Durrës, one of Albania’s most important commercial hubs, it is the younger residents who are taking up the battle for clean air. The city's port is an important hub for maritime and road transport, as well as for industrial activities, with a significant impact on air quality and citizens' health. In the absence of regular measurements by state institutions, a group of young local activists began measuring pollutant levels by taking portable devices to some of the most critical points in the port and then sharing the results on Facebook.
"“A strong sea breeze used to blow, and I can still feel it today. Now you have to escape the city to experience it"
Denisa Kasa, 25, fondly remembers the afternoons of her childhood along the former Volga promenade: “A strong sea breeze used to blow, and I can still feel it today. Now you have to escape the city to experience it,” she says. Yet official data on pollution is lacking. "That is why we decided to measure it ourselves,” she adds.
The portable device recorded levels for five major pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Measurements were carried out in five strategic points around the port, where the concentration of vehicles and industrial activities is the highest. According to environmental expert Imeldi Sokoli, the methodology used was based on previous monitoring practices by civil society organizations, with the aim not only of providing an overview of the situation but also of raising public awareness. “Institutions often lack the funds for such studies, which is why the involvement of young people and the community is essential,” he emphasizes.
The results painted a concerning picture: PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ exceeded the legal limit by up to two and 3.5 times respectively, confirming them as the main health threat. CO₂ levels were several times above standards, reflecting intense urban and industrial pressure. NO₂ remained within the allowed limits, possibly due to dispersion by wind and weather conditions. CO was also below the permissible threshold, suggesting it does not currently pose a problem. Environmental expert Greta Shehu stresses that fine particulates such as PM₂.₅ are the most dangerous: “Because of their small size, they penetrate deep into the respiratory system and are linked to cardiovascular diseases and chronic lung conditions, especially among children and the elderly.”
"The situation is alarming, but not without solutions. Action is needed now"
For young people like Denisa, the fact that the measurements were carried out by citizens themselves is a big step toward awareness and action. “We need to talk openly about these issues, demand a better urban system, replace cars with bicycles, and create spaces where young people can be engaged,” she says. Experts, meanwhile, highlight some tangible solutions: traffic management and greater use of cleaner public transport (Euro 6 standards); limiting port loading and unloading operations to off-peak hours; increasing green spaces and planting vegetation that absorbs CO₂; strengthening municipal plans and tightening controls on pollution sources. “The situation is alarming, but not without solutions. Action is needed now,” Sokoli concludes.
This initiative, supported by environmental organizations, has provided young people not only with practical knowledge but also with a sense of collaboration and civic engagement. They see this involvement as a way to raise their voices, expose problems, and propose concrete alternatives — from improving public transport to expanding green areas. This kind of activism shows that despite the lack of political will and institutional infrastructure, youth energy and collective action can drive change. Through data-backed evidence and personal stories, young people in Durrës are becoming key actors in protecting the environment and improving quality of life in their city.
In Wijk aan Zee, next to the port of IJmuiden, surrounded by the beach and dunes next to the North Sea, we find steel manufacturer Tata Steel, the largest polluter in the Netherlands in terms of CO2, nitrogen, and heavy metals such as lead and mercury. This leads to serious health risks for people living in the area: cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and asbestos-related cancer are significantly more common here, and people visit their general practitioner with acute symptoms more often than in other industrial residential areas in the Netherlands. As a result, residents pay €198.65 more in healthcare costs each year than other Dutch citizens. People in the region live 2,5 months shorter on average compared to the rest of the Netherlands, and lung cancer occurs up to 50 per cent more frequently among people living near Tata Steel than the national average.
When Sanne Walvisch, her husband and two young children got the opportunity to move to Wijk Aan Zee they couldn’t be happier. They fell in love with this place and felt immediately welcome in the village’s community. Not long after they moved to the village, they received a call from a manager from Tata Steel. "The manager told me that, as new residents with two young children, we could request cleaning vouchers if we ever experienced dust nuisance from the factory. I really appreciated that at that time". Sanne and her family experienced some dust nuisance from time to time, but it didn’t really bother them because they enjoyed living close to the beach so much.
The graphite rain originating from Tata Steel contains so many metals that prolonged exposure can cause neurological developmental disorders in children
But a few years later they experienced an unexpected awakening: the “graphite rains”. "My daughter, who was five or six years old at that time, called it unicorn rain. Because it looked like all the streets were covered with a small layer of glitter. As if someone had been playing with glitter and scattered it all over the village", Walvisch explains. But this magical glitter was far from innocent. Graphite rain consists of dust clouds that are released into the air when slag, a residual product of steel production, is poured out of boilers in liquid form. The graphite rain originating from Tata Steel contains so many metals that prolonged exposure can cause neurological developmental disorders, especially in children because their brains are still developing. People living in the nearby area have to close their doors and windows on a daily basis, and have to clean their windows very often because of the dust coming from the industry.
Tata Steel organised an information meeting after the first graphite rains, where the director from Tata Steel spoke to the local residents. "He was honest about the fact that they didn’t have the graphite rains under control, but he responded to the questions of concerned residents in a very presumptuous manner", Walvisch reminded. She was in shock. "The fact that this steel factory could pollute such harmful substances and the lack of answers in this meeting, didn’t fit the image I had of the Netherlands as a well-organized country with strict regulations and strict laws that companies must adhere to".
Shortly after this meeting the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) published the research that links the graphite rains to neurologic developmental disorders, followed by another report that shows that the number of carcinogenic substances has increased significantly. In just one year, the number of substances had increased fourfold. For Walvish and other residents this was the final push. It became very clear that the legislation, regulation and surveillance were inadequate to protect the residents. They stated that it was time for action rather than further research. Because change from the government and Tata Steel was not likely to come quickly, the citizens decided to take matters into their own hands. This is why Sanne Walvisch, together with two others, established the citizen initiative Frisse Wind, Dutch for fresh air.
For more than five years this initiative has fought against Tata Steel’s harmful emissions. Frisse Wind initiated several lawsuits, such as one where 1100 residents filed a report at the police about the harm that Tata Steel has caused to them. Within this fight, citizen science has been a game changer, according to the founders. The house of one of the co-founders has a perfect view of the factory. They decided to make use of this view by installing cameras to monitor Tata Steel’s pollution. The colour of the clouds coming from the chimney gives an indication of which substances it contains. The colours black, yellow, orange and brown give an indication that there might be toxic and even illegal substances in the cloud. At first citizens spotted these clouds manually, scrolling through all the footage on their laptops and phones. In two years time, people detected 2500 toxic clouds, among which dozens of clouds that contain illegal substances. These toxic and illegal clouds were reported to the local government agency that is responsible for monitoring polluting companies in the region. Due to the people´s report, the local government has fined Tata Steel multiple times for emitting toxic, illegal clouds.
After Frisse Wind started monitoring, the government agency has installed several cameras and Tata Friss has been fined multiple times
However, detecting all these clouds manually takes a lot of time. That is why several AI-specialists who were interested in the mission of Frisse Wind, worked on an AI-tool to detect the toxic clouds automatically. That system is now running for a year and saves them a lot of time. Last year Tata Steel was fined for the seventh time since Frisse Wind started reporting toxic clouds based on their camera footage. Tata Steel had to pay €100.000 euros for breaching environmental regulations. Before Frisse Wind started with their camera surveillance, the responsible government agency only observed Tata Steel once in a while. But, as Frisse Wind has proved with all their reports on toxic and illegal clouds, the government agency was unable to adequately monitor Tata Steel itself. A year after Frisse Wind installed their cameras, the government agency also installed several cameras to detect the toxic clouds themselves. A spokesperson from the government agency told a Dutch media outlet last year that they are working hard to develop a similar AI-system as Frisse Wind.
Since Frisse Wind started with their citizen science-based camera surveillance, Tata Steel itself has reported up to four times more often to the government agency that they emitted illegal pollutants. In July 2024, a political motion to have Tata Steel independently audited was passed in the Dutch Parliament. According to the initiator of the motion, the local residents revealed that the local government agency ‘has never had the capacity to audit a large company such as Tata Steel’.
From Genoa’s balconies to the streets of Durrës and the beaches of Wijk aan Zee, the message is the same: citizens are no longer willing to breathe silently. Armed with handheld sensors, cameras, and determination, they are exposing what official reports often overlook and demanding accountability. Their efforts prove that grassroots science can spark awareness, mobilize communities, and even push institutions to act. Yet, these stories also highlight the limits of volunteer activism: citizens cannot replace systematic monitoring or enforce regulations on their own, collecting reliable data requires technical skills and specialized equipment that are costly and not always accessible, and sustaining such initiatives relies on the voluntary time and energy of individuals. The fight for clean air also collides with powerful economic interests—from cruise tourism to steel production—that often make political change slow and contested. While people can make the invisible visible, only strong political will and effective enforcement can turn clean air from a demand into a right.
Andrea Giambartolomei (lavialibera), Karolina Rista, Erida Shani, and Esmeralda Keta (Pozitivi), Tim de Jong and Esmée Koeleman (Momus) contributed to the reporting. This investigation was realized with the support of Journalismfund Europe and Transitions.
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