The cities with the most polluted air have been identified: Neither Istanbul nor Kocaeli
Air pollution in Turkey is having serious impacts on both health and the economy. In 2024, 62 thousand people lost their lives due to polluted air, while the cost to the country's economy reached 138 billion dollars. Meanwhile, the cities with the most polluted air in Turkey have been identified.
12punto
The latest report published by the Right to Clean Air Platform has revealed the extent of air pollution in Turkey. According to the report, air pollution creates a significant burden not only in terms of health but also economically. Experts state that stagnant winds, fuels used for heating, and exhaust gases negatively affect air quality.
TURKEY'S MOST POLLUTED CITIES
In the report, Iğdır, Erzincan, and Kütahya were identified as the cities with the most polluted air in Turkey. In Istanbul and Ankara, air quality was measured at a "sensitive" level. Experts stated that the fact that the legal limit for the harmful pollutant known as Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) has not yet been determined in Turkey is a significant deficiency.
If the levels recommended by the World Health Organization were reached, the lives of at least 60 thousand people could be saved in Turkey every year.
CLEANEST REGIONS AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
According to the measurements of the Right to Clean Air Platform, among the settlements with the cleanest air in Turkey are regions such as Kastamonu – Ağlı, Eskişehir – Odunpazarı, and Çankırı. Experts state that in order to reduce air pollution, the transition to clean energy instead of coal must be accelerated, the shift toward public transportation must be increased, and urban green spaces must be expanded.