Evaluation of air quality in Umraniye, Istanbul

The increasing population, urbanization, industrialization and the increase in energy requirement cause a rise in air pollution, resulting in global warming, and climate change. The most important pollutants in determining air quality can be listed as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3). These pollutants that adversely affect air quality (except O3) are primary pollutants released into the atmosphere from power plants using fossil-based fuels, motor vehicle exhausts, heating in houses and industrial facilities. On the other hand, tropospheric ozone (O3) is a secondary pollutant formed by the photochemical reaction of NOx and volatile organic compounds with sunlight, which is also a strong greenhouse gas. The increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causes climate change. The main way to prevent climate change is to keep greenhouse gas emissions under control. In this study, the pollutants that cause air pollution in the Umraniye district were evaluated for 2018-2020. The air quality of Umraniye, which has a population of approximately 715 thousand people, is monitored at the Air Quality Monitoring Station of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3 for 2018-2020 pollutant concentrations have been downloaded from the air quality monitoring website. Pollutants were evaluated according to the Air Quality Assessment and Management Regulation (HKDYY) and limit excesses were determined. When PM10 data were evaluated according to HKDYY for the selected years in the study (2018, 2019, 2020), the limit value determined was not attained in any year and it was seen that the year with the most overdrafts was 2018. When the SO2, NO2, CO and O3 pollutants are assessed according to HKDYY for the given dates, the specified limit values are achieved for all pollutants. According to these results; to improve air quality in Umraniye district, pollution in production should be prevented and green production strategies should be supported. In addition, the use of renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels used in production and residential heating should be encouraged through coordinated work by ministries.