[Air quality regulation and implementation of the European Council Directives].

The evolution of the situation, particularly in urban areas, regarding the atmospheric air pollutants and a better knowledge about some pollutants health effects, made it necessary to update specific regulations. This has been achieved through the implementation of the European Council Directives by Italian decrees. Thus, air quality limits have been harmonized and new national limit values for the protection of human health and for the protection of ecosystems have been set. As regards pollutants that are not regulated in Italy, one can refer to the air quality guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), with guideline values based on effect other than cancer, carcinogenic effects and ecological effects on vegetation.