Air pollution warning from expert: 'Do not go out without a mask'

Prof. Dr. Lokman Hakan Tecer, Dean of the Çorlu Faculty of Engineering at Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University (NKÜ), recommended that the elderly, children, and other sensitive groups in particular should not go out on days with low air quality, or should wear masks while performing their activities if they are outside.

Tecer stated that in Tekirdağ, where industrial activities are intense and which receives migration every day, population growth, industrial production, and traffic density are increasing air pollution. Air pollution originating from industrial facilities, vehicle traffic, and the fuels used are among the primary factors triggering this pollution. Beyond being an environmental problem, air pollution also directly affects human health negatively. The quality of the air we breathe is an important factor that directly affects our health; because while a person consumes an average of 2-2.5 liters of water per day, they breathe approximately 20 thousand liters of air.

Tecer stated that air pollution can disperse depending on wind and weather conditions or can become more intense, increasing its impact.

'WE MUST DEFINITELY MONITOR AIR QUALITY'

Emphasizing that air pollution increases during the winter months, Tecer spoke as follows:

"Inhaling air pollutants can lead to serious health problems, especially for the elderly, asthma patients, people with respiratory ailments, and children. We must constantly monitor the air quality in the region where we live. On days with low air quality, the elderly, children, and sensitive groups in particular need to limit their outdoor activities. It is very important that they do not go out on these days or that they are outside with a mask. We must accept that air pollution is a serious threat to human health."

Tecer noted that air pollution reaches its peak during hours when factories are in heavy production and when traffic density increases. Stating that the steps that need to be taken to reduce air pollution must be accelerated, Tecer said the following regarding the measures that can be taken:

"Measures must be taken at both individual and institutional levels to reduce air pollution. Inspections at industrial facilities should be tightened, the use of low-quality fuel should be prevented, and the transition to clean energy should be encouraged. Traffic flow within the city should be made more efficient, and congestion should be reduced on routes with heavy traffic.

Individual measures are also of great importance. Just as we plan our daily activities according to weather reports, we should also monitor air quality and make this a priority issue for our health. We must show sensitivity in this regard for both ourselves and our children and those for whom we are responsible."

News Source: 12punto