Effects of air pollution on the public in adanaevaluation of awareness and consciousness level

The rapid deterioration in air quality due to environmental factors all over the world, and therefore in Turkey as well, not only negatively affects human life and health, but also harms soil, crops, forests, lakes and rivers. The increasing population, dense urbanization, transportation and industrialization in Turkey cause air pollution levels to increase; migration from rural areas to cities along with the increase in industrialization has also contributed to the increase in emissions, making air pollution a serious health problem both in the country and especially in the Adana region. In this context, in order to determine the awareness and consciousness levels of the public regarding air pollution in Adana province, a 35-question face-to-face survey was applied to 402 people, and the perception of air pollution, its sources, effects and individual attitudes towards it were evaluated. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS program; the findings revealed that the vast majority of the participants were aware of air pollution in Adana, but they were inadequate in taking personal precautions. According to the survey results, 77% of the participants believed that air pollution was caused by humans, while 68% stated that pollution had negative effects on health; the most frequently reported health problems included shortness of breath, eye discomfort and headache. In seasonal analyses, it was determined that air pollution was felt more intensely in the winter months and in the evening hours, and that Seyhan district was the most affected region. In terms of individual measures, although the participants were informed about the sources of air pollution, they were reluctant to make financial contributions for regular air quality measurements or to use masks for protection; it was also observed that air quality was ignored during house selection and rent and property price were determined as the primary criteria. The findings regarding transportation preferences were interpreted as the widespread use of buses and private vehicles; while highways provide ease of transportation, they increase noise and air pollution. This study provides important data in terms of determining awareness and individual attitudes towards air pollution in Adana; the findings obtained will form the basis for increasing environmental awareness and developing effective policy strategies.