Temporal and spatial change of air quality in Konya province and health risk assessment

This study aims to emphasize the importance of air pollution on human health by analyzing the data recorded at air pollution measurement stations in Konya Province between January 2019 and December 2021. Mapping the spatial distribution of air pollutants according to the coordinates of the measurement stations is vital for determining the regions and distribution of intense air pollution. By establishing a connection between the past and future levels of the primary air pollution levels in Konya, this study aims to transfer institutional reports and numerical data on air pollution to the literature and present them to policymakers to develop measures to limit air pollution and mitigate its impact on health. It has been determined that the concentrations of pollutants, except for O3 recorded at high concentrations during periods of increased atmospheric temperature, exceeded the limit values in months with low air temperatures. The causes of high measured pollution are closely related to factors originating from heating, as well as the quality, type, and amount of fuel used. Stations located near industrial areas and those in regions with high population density and traffic activity have been identified as areas that tend to exceed acceptable pollutant limit values. Using ArcGIS 10.7 geographic information systems program, maps prepared for spatial variation attempt to determine the places with high pollution and which regions might be affected by the distribution. It has been observed that pollutants causing air pollution can lead to many adverse effects, primarily respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, among people living in those regions. According to evaluations made using the WHO's AirQ+ model, it can be accepted or related that 9.6% of deaths in 2019, 6.3% of deaths in 2020, and 10.1% of deaths in 2021 were due to exposure to PM10 pollutants in the air. As PM10 levels increased, their impact on deaths also increased. Therefore, strategies and measures need to be developed and implemented to control air pollution to minimize its impact on human health and economic losses.