Measurement of air quality in settlements with and without industrial facilities in Aydın and evaluation of its effects on health

Objective: Due to Aydin city has entered the process of industrialization in recent years and having a significant potential in terms of geothermal energy in Turkey and World, it is aimed to evaluate the effects of air quality and health. Methods: Research with cross-sectional type has been carried out in four neighborhoods in Aydin (İmamköy, Yılmazköy, Umurlu, Meşrutiyet). AERMOD Distribution Model and Passive Sampling Method for the evaluation of air quality in the study; A questionnaire consisting of ten chapters were used to assess human health. Results: In the study, air quality values were found as NO2= 12,1 µg/m³, SO2= <0,6 µg/m³, NH3= 8,3 µg/m³, H2S= <0,2 µg/m³ in the Yılmazköy, NO2= 3,7 µg/m³, SO2= <0,6 µg/m³, NH3= 43,8 µg/m³, H2S= <0,2 µg/m³ in İmamköy, NO2= 6,3 µg/m³, SO2= 0,8 µg/m³, NH3= 13,3 µg/m³, H2S= <0,2 µg/m³ in Umurlu, NO2= 7,0 µg/m³, SO2= <0,6 µg/m³, NH3= 24,4 µg/m³, H2S= <0,2 µg/m³ in Meşrutiyet. According to the results of the evaluation of human health; All symptoms are found to be the same, except for the forgetfulness symptom between the study and control zone. Forgetfulness symptom and the ratio of the applicants to the health institution in the last year were higher in the study area. Conclusion: This study showed that there is no significant difference between health situations except for the forgetfulness symptoms between those who live near industrial facilities. The determination of air quality measurements under the legislation limit values in both regions support this result. However, in the question of ear, nose and throat and eye symptoms, it is thought that the higher level of all allergic and irritative symptoms in those living in the study area, although not statistically significant, is an important result that should be emphasized. The fact that the research is equivalent to the same period as the COVID-19 pandemic makes it difficult to evaluate this result in a healthy way. For this reason, it is important to repeat the research in a period where the COVID-19 pendemia is not available.