Turkey’s Recent Air Quality Assessment Revealed
Turkey’s Black Report 2024 Reveals Alarming Air Pollution Levels
The recently released air quality report card for Turkey, known as the “Black Report 2024,” has brought to light concerning findings about air pollution in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
According to the report, particulate matter PM10, a major contributor to air pollution, and carcinogenic PM2.5 are not being consistently and adequately monitored in these cities. Limited official data included in the report shows that the residents of Izmir are breathing air that exceeds the national legislation’s 40 µg/m3 limit for pollutants, while Ankara and Istanbul are not far behind.
In 2022, Istanbul residents were exposed to an average of 38.41 μg/m3 PM10 pollution, which is 2.5 times higher than the guideline set by the World Health Organization. The levels of carcinogenic PM2.5 were also alarmingly high, with Ankara recording an annual average of 39.25 μg/m3 and Izmir reaching 45.18 μg/m3.
The report also highlighted the health risks associated with air pollution, such as the increased risk of breast cancer due to breathing exhaust fumes. In France, a significant percentage of annual breast cancer cases are attributed to NO2, a primary source of which is traffic emissions.
During a press conference in Istanbul, Clean Air Right Platform (THHP) Coordinator Deniz Gümüşel stressed the importance of establishing an effective air quality monitoring system in order to ensure the right to live in a clean and healthy environment. Gümüşel lamented the fact that over 92 percent of the Turkish population continues to breathe polluted air according to WHO standards.
Prof. Dr. Gamze Varol highlighted the link between air pollution and breast cancer, citing studies that show an increase in breast cancer cases in areas with higher exposure to PM2.5. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Çağlayan pointed out that air pollution accounts for a significant percentage of total deaths globally, with 14.2 percent of deaths in Turkey in 2022 being attributed to air pollution-related causes.
The Black Report 2024 serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address air pollution in Turkey and protect public health from its detrimental effects. Action must be taken to improve air quality monitoring and reduce pollution levels in order to safeguard the well-being of the population.
