Air pollution in Istanbul increased by 14 percent in the first 7 months of the year

The average level of nitrogen dioxide, an indicator of air pollution in Istanbul, was measured at 35.55 micrograms/cubic meter between January 1 and July 31, 2023. This year, that figure was recorded at 40.61 micrograms/cubic meter. Accordingly, air pollution caused by nitrogen dioxide in Istanbul increased by 14 percent between January 1 and July 31 this year compared to the same period of the previous year.

EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: IT NEEDS TO BE USED MORE

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Toros, a faculty member at Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Department of Meteorological Engineering, stated that air pollution values in the city change every day. Noting that traffic, activities in industrial facilities, heating-related pollutants, and meteorological factors are important in the change of air pollution, Toros stated that traffic is the most significant factor in air pollution, especially in Istanbul.

Stating that they have been conducting a study on air pollution values in Istanbul, Toros said, "When we examine the data for the first 7 months of the last 2 years, specifically January 1-July 31, 2023, and January 1-July 31, 2024, we see that nitrogen dioxide values, which are air pollutants primarily caused by vehicles across Istanbul, increased by 14 percent in 2024 compared to 2023."

Emphasizing that this number is gradually increasing as new vehicles enter traffic in Istanbul every day, Toros said, "As the number of vehicles increases, both traffic congestion in Istanbul increases and vehicles emit more emissions as they stop and start, further polluting the atmosphere. To ensure clean air in Istanbul, the stop-and-go traffic and the number of vehicles in Istanbul need to be reduced. Public transportation needs to be used more," he said. Prof. Dr. Toros stated that pollutants released into the atmosphere affect everyone globally, and continued as follows:

OTHER POLLUTANTS ALSO INCREASED

A world temperature record was broken on July 22. Temperature records were also broken in the previous July. When we compare the temperature data for June in our country with previous years, we see that temperatures were 3.6 degrees higher.

Behind all of this lies air pollution; that is, the activities that we, as humans, carry out. Using more vehicles, producing more, and using resources inefficiently lead to the pollution of the atmosphere.

Pollution of the atmosphere also leads to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and even conditions affecting the brain.

Emphasizing that they looked at other pollutants in the study, Toros added that while the particulate matter rate has decreased, the amounts of sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide have increased.