Air Quality Awareness—Empirical Evidence from a Comparative Perspective between Two European Cities

Abstract

This research, conducted as part of the European project PA-MAP (Participatory Approach to Monitoring Air Quality in Urban Environments), investigates citizens’ perceptions of air pollution in two European cities: Turin (Italy) and Dublin (Ireland). We systematically collected social data through semi-structured surveys distributed via online platforms. Our aim was to gather comprehensive information on the perception of pollution sources and the effectiveness of control systems. We examined citizens’ habits and their suggestions to improve air quality. The results revealed the following: (1) In Turin, the perception of air pollution significantly influences individuals’ self-assessments of health. Consequently, increased vigilance is required to mitigate environmental health risks and to disseminate information on air quality and effective practices for reducing air pollution. (2) The use of sustainable transportation in Turin is hindered due to the inadequate maintenance of cycling infrastructure. Citizens prefer to use cars or trains, which facilitate rapid travel. (3) In Dublin, greater sensitivity to the problem of air pollution has emerged, and the use of sustainable means of transport is facilitated via ad hoc infrastructure. These results provide empirical evidence to policymakers to support the promotion of concrete local actions through which to improve air quality.