Taranto (Italy)
A coastal city in Southern Italy, Taranto sits on one of Europe’s largest natural harbours. Known for its rich maritime heritage and strategic military history, the city has also been shaped by decades of heavy industry and steel production. Its landscape blends ancient architecture, waterfront neighbourhoods, and industrial zones – making Taranto a powerful example of how environmental pressures intersect with daily urban life.

Industrial legacy, environmental pressure, urban transformation

Taranto is one of Europe’s most emblematic industrial cities, shaped by decades of steel production. The city continues to face critical air-quality challenges, with a strong link between emissions and public health outcomes.
Taranto offers:

• Data-rich public health systems, with extensive historical epidemiological records
• Population-based data collection, enabling detailed analysis of exposure and health outcomes
• High-resolution air-quality monitoring networks, capturing pollutants linked to chronic disease

A population living in close proximity to industrial emissions.