North Italy black zone for smog risk

(ANSA) - Brussels, October 29 - The European Environment Agency (EEA) said in a report on Monday that almost all people in Europe who live in areas where the three main pollution thresholds are regularly crossed at the same time are in North Italy. It said 3.9 million people live in areas of Europe where all three standards are exceeded - nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and PM10 particles - including 3.7 million in northern Italy, 95% of the total.
    The agency said Italy was top in Europe for annual premature deaths attributed to NO2 (20,500) and to 03 (3,200) and second-top for fine particle PM2.5 deaths (60,600).