Air Quality in Rome: Current Data, Critical Areas and What Is Changing

Rome is Italy's third city for average annual PM2.5 concentrations, after Milan and Turin. But unlike the Po Valley — where pollution is in part structural due to geographical and climatic factors — Rome's problem is largely avoidable, and in part already improving.

ARPA Lazio 2024 Data

ARPA Lazio monitoring stations recorded an annual average PM2.5 of 18.4 µg/m³ in Rome's central urban zone in 2024, against a WHO limit of 5 µg/m³ and an EU regulatory limit of 25 µg/m³. The WHO limit was exceeded on 134 days, with peaks in winter (thermal inversions) and summer (ozone and Saharan dust).

The most critical areas for particulate matter are: the eastern quadrant (Prenestino, Torpignattara, Centocelle) due to the concentration of heavy traffic; the southern quadrant (EUR, Laurentina, Ciampino) due to proximity to Ciampino airport; and the historic centre due to tourist traffic and activity density.

Enclosed Spaces: The Hidden Problem

But outdoor monitoring station data gives only part of the picture. The capital's semi-enclosed environments — metro stations (Lines A, B, C), covered car parks, road tunnels — show far higher concentrations, as documented by the Bufaga–ARPA Lazio collaboration of 2023–2024.

Termini station is the most critical of all: with 3 converging lines and over 150,000 daily transits, PM2.5 concentrations on Line B platforms reach 250 µg/m³ during peak hours. A value that exceeds even Beijing metro stations at their worst.

What Is Changing

Roma Capitale launched a multi-year air quality plan in 2024 that includes, among other measures, improved ventilation and purification in metro stations (within the ATAC service contract), the introduction of zero-emission zones in the historic centre by 2026, and a requirement for purification systems in new public car parks with more than 200 spaces.

The collaboration between Bufaga and ATAC (see the dedicated case study) is one of the first concrete initiatives within this plan. The pilot model covering 3 Line B stations will be extended to another 15 stations in 2026.

Calculate the Impact for Your Rome Facility

Whether you manage a car park, a station or any high-footfall facility in Rome, the Bufaga calculator gives you in 60 seconds an estimate of PM concentrations in your facility, the number of devices required, the PM removed annually and — if the facility is eligible — the ADV revenue potential.

For large public facilities in Rome (>2,000 m²) or for those evaluating an installation under the PNRR plan, Bufaga also offers a free on-site technical assessment with production of a pre-installation air quality report signed by a certified technician.