Air pollution debates in Bursa strain the industrial and health agenda

The search for a solution to the air pollution problem in Bursa requires a delicate balance between the continuity of industrial activities and efforts to protect public health. Recently, the imposition of heavy fines on factories due to flue gas emissions has led to the escalation of both economic and environmental debates in the city.

Mustafa Gümüş, Chairman of the Board of Gümüş Enerji, stated that approximately 130 factories in the city are facing fines of up to 680 thousand TL due to flue gas issues, and he underlined that sanctions are being applied even to facilities equipped with filters.

Gümüş pointed out that the total organic carbon (TOC) limit applied in Bursa has been lowered below Turkey's general average.

Stating that the TOC limit, which is 21 mg/m² across Turkey, has been set at only 15 mg/m² in Bursa, Gümüş touched upon the differences in measurement conditions and the devices used, saying, "In tests conducted simultaneously on the same chimney, one can be 5 while the other is 70. Such a system is technically and economically unsustainable." He added that this practice, which is well below the 50 mg/m² limit in the European Union, places a burden on factories and has brought some businesses to the brink of closure.

Sami Bilge, Chairman of the Board of Elyaf Tekstil, stated that they made investments in filters at their facilities early on, while criticizing that the current standards are three times the values applied in Europe. Bilge used the expression, "The requested values are three times what Europe demands. Such a filter does not exist in the world. We want to comply, but if you impose an impossible standard, this is not environmentalism."

Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey approached the issue from the perspective of public health, stating that the city carries a high level of risk in terms of air pollution due to its geographical location and intense industrial activity.

Bozbey announced that air quality has reached critical levels in districts such as İnegöl, Kestel, and Gürsu.

Stating that the number of air quality monitoring stations will be increased from 31 to 41 by the municipality and that masks will be distributed to the public in high-risk districts, Bozbey said, "Our goal is a clean, healthy, and livable Bursa. Air pollution is not just an environmental issue, but a direct matter of quality of life."

CHP Bursa Deputy Prof. Dr. Kayıhan Pala noted that the PM10 value measured in the city has risen to as high as 367 in some regions, pointing out that this is at an "emergency" level.

Drawing attention to the lack of air measurement stations in many districts, Pala stated that the pollution is spreading not only to the city center but also to other surrounding areas. Stating that thousands of people lose their lives prematurely in Bursa every year due to air pollution, Pala expressed that an effective, comprehensive action plan has not yet been put forward and that the current levels require an alarm to be raised according to regulations.

This tension between industry and public health in Bursa seems likely to remain at the top of the agenda in the coming period, alongside goals for clean air and sustainable production.