Districts with the lowest and highest air pollution in Istanbul identified

Air pollution, one of the leading environmental problems in the world and in Turkey, has returned to the agenda with the foggy and hazy weather that has been affecting Istanbul in recent days. Air quality in the city is monitored in real-time by the National Air Quality Monitoring Network (NEFES) under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and the Air Quality Monitoring Center of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Department of Environmental Protection.

Thanks to air monitoring stations placed at different points across the city, air quality is evaluated by taking measurements specific to each district. The air quality index is determined based on the concentration of particulate matter in the air and is divided into the following categories:

0-50: Good (Green)

51-100: Moderate (Yellow)

101-150: Sensitive (Orange)

151-200: Unhealthy (Red)

201-300: Poor (Purple)

301-500: Hazardous (Maroon)

According to the latest measurements, Beylikdüzü, Sultangazi, and Avcılar stand out among the districts in Istanbul with good air quality, while air pollution has reached sensitive levels in areas such as Kadıköy and Sancaktepe. In the Göztepe D100 area, air quality entered the "unhealthy" category, drawing attention.

LATEST STATUS ON THE EUROPEAN AND ANATOLIAN SIDES

According to data from NEFES and the Marmara Clean Air Center Directorates (MTHM), while Beylikdüzü (23), Sultangazi (23), and Avcılar (40) on the European Side are in the "good" category with low particulate matter levels, Kağıthane (105) and Silivri (84) are in a more sensitive state in terms of air quality. On the Anatolian Side, Şile (34) and the Adalar (35) offer clean air, while Kadıköy (133) and Sancaktepe (138) have reached sensitive levels. Particularly around Göztepe D100, the air pollution level rose to 174 and was assessed as unhealthy.

CURRENT MEASUREMENTS FROM THE İBB AIR QUALITY MONITORING CENTER

Real-time measurements conducted by the İBB also revealed details of air quality across the city. While Sultangazi Stone Quarries (20), Beylikdüzü (22), and Büyükada (29) stand out with clean air values, air pollution was notable at high-traffic points such as Kadıköy D100 (187) and Kağıthane 1 (109).

WARNINGS FROM EXPERTS

Environmental experts state that air pollution poses a major risk, especially for individuals with respiratory ailments. Authorities emphasize that to reduce air pollution in Istanbul, traffic density must be brought under control, green spaces must be increased, and preventive measures against air pollution in industrial zones must be strengthened.

Istanbul residents can follow current air quality data through the NEFES application and the data published by the İBB Air Quality Monitoring Center.

News Source: AA