Air Pollution and Respiratory Health in Turkey
How does air pollution in Turkey affect respiratory health? Read our article now to learn more and protect your health!
Air pollution in Turkey, especially in large cities and heavily industrialized regions, is a significant environmental problem that seriously threatens public health. Studies show that a large majority of the country’s population breathes polluted air that is above World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The effects of this situation on respiratory health are quite severe.
The Link Between Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases
Air pollution contains harmful gases and fine dust, primarily Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10). When these particles are inhaled, they can bypass the body’s natural defense mechanisms, reaching the deepest parts of the lungs and entering the bloodstream.
Short- and Long-Term Effects:
- Triggering Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Polluted air directly increases the severity and frequency of Asthma attacks. At the same time, in individuals exposed to pollutants like coal smoke, it accelerates the development of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and causes existing COPD conditions to worsen.
- Increased Risk of Infection: Pollution damages cells in the respiratory tract and weakens the immune system, compromising the body’s defense mechanisms. This makes individuals more vulnerable to acute respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Cancer Risk: Long-term exposure to PM, as proven by the World Health Organization, significantly increases the risk of various types of cancer, especially Lung Cancer.
Sources of Pollution and Geographical Hotspots
The main causes of air pollution in Turkey are heavy traffic in large cities, residential heating with low-quality coal during the winter months, and thermal power plants and heavy industrial activities in industrial zones.
Regions where pollution levels consistently exceed international standards often include some provinces in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia (for example, Batman, Iğdır, and Hakkari), as well as some centers in the heavily industrialized Marmara and Aegean regions.
What is air pollution like in Turkey?
In light of this information, the air pollution situation in Turkey, along with international and regional comparisons, can be summarized as follows:
General State of Air Pollution in Turkey
According to the 2023 World Air Quality Report data, the overall air pollution situation in Turkey shows different results on global and regional scales:
1. Global Ranking (Out of 134 Countries)
Turkey ranks 44th out of 134 countries. This position indicates that Turkey’s air pollution level is above the global average, but it is not among the most polluted countries in the world (generally the top 20-30). In terms of PM 2.5 levels, it falls into the medium-high pollution group.
2. European Regional Ranking (Out of 43 Countries)
When considering the European region, Turkey ranks 5th out of 43 countries. This ranking unfortunately shows that Turkey is among the top five countries with the most polluted air on the European continent.
Main Drivers of Air Pollution (in Terms of PM 2.5)
PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers) is the most harmful pollutant to human health because it easily enters the lungs and bloodstream. The main factors leading to this high level of pollution in Turkey are as follows:
- Thermal Power Plants and Industry: Regions with a high concentration of coal-based energy production and heavy industrial facilities cause high levels of PM 2.5 and SO₂ emissions.
- Residential Heating: During the winter months, the use of low-quality solid fuels (coal, wood), especially in low-income areas, leads to a significant increase in PM 2.5 levels in urban centers.
- Heavy Traffic: Vehicle density in large metropolitan areas (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir) makes a significant contribution to PM 2.5 emissions through diesel exhaust fumes.