Impact of the COVID-19 Event on PM10 Air Pollution in Istanbul and Ankara

Abstract

Abstract The quality of the air we breathe is important for a healthy life. The use of fossil fuels has increased continuously since the second half of the 19th century. Gases or dusts released into the atmosphere during overproduction, increased consumption waste can reduce air quality on a global scale. In order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus epidemic that emerged towards the end of 2019 and spread around the world, restrictions began to be imposed on human activities. With the announcement of the COVID-19 case on March 11, 2020 in Turkey, a series of measures restricting human activities started to be taken starting from March 16, 2020. On the basis of restriction, it is aimed to prevent the spread of the virus, which has the ability to spread through contact, and to slow the rate of spread. The change in air pollution values due to different restrictions of human activities has been a subject of curiosity. The results of the study showed that the reduction of human activities significantly affects air pollution. In this study, the changes in PM10 pollutant concentrations in Istanbul and Ankara in the months when more measures were not taken and in the months when more measures were taken in 2019 and 2020 were examined. As a result of the restrictions applied, the use of vehicles, industrial activities, fuel consumption, etc. It was observed that the change caused a decrease in PM10 pollutant concentrations.