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In the spring months, when the coronavirus pandemic was most intense in the world and Turkey, there was a decrease in air pollution by up to 60%. In the summer, air pollution increased and returned to its former levels as steps of normalization were taken. According to data reviewed by B2Press, air quality in Turkey's 10 most populous cities has fallen by 85% in the last 4 months.

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ISTANBUL (TR) - According to the data of the World Health Organization, polluted air causes 7 million deaths every year around the world. Although various studies are conducted around the world every year on this subject, it seems that it is not enough. Finally, social isolation measures taken within the scope of the coronavirus pandemic and curfews imposed have reduced the factors that cause air pollution, such as people closing their homes, vehicle use, factory activities. Although it was observed that the air quality increased during this period, air pollution returned to its previous levels in the new normal period.

According to the data of IQAir, the Royal Netherlands Meteorology Institute, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and the air quality measurement stations of the municipalities, examined by the online PR Agency B2Press, air pollution in cities around the world decreased by 60% in April as a result of quarantine and curfew restrictions. Air pollution levels in European cities decreased by an average of 45% compared to the same period the previous year, while air pollution in 29 metropolitan cities in Turkey decreased by 32% after March 16. Current data showed that air quality declined again with normalization.

Izmir's air quality fell most in Turkey

According to data reviewed by B2Press, air quality in Turkey's 10 most populous cities by population has fallen by 85% in the last 4 months. According to the Air Quality Index (HKI) records obtained from air quality measurement stations located in city centers, air pollution in Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city, decreased by 11% as of the end of March. Air pollution in other metropolitan cities, which are the most populous as a population, decreased by 27% in the capital Ankara, 37% in Bursa, 28% in Antalya, 13% in Kocaeli and 46% in Adana and 3% in Izmir. Compared to April, the city with the lowest air quality in August was Izmir with a change rate of 188%. Adana with 157%, Ankara with 125% and Bursa with 106%. Konya followed the order with 92% change, while the air quality change was recorded as 77% in Antalya, 48% in Gaziantep, 26% in Şanlıurfa, Kocaeli and Istanbul.

Air pollution decreased by 54% in Europe

The data obtained by B2Press from IQAir and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute revealed that air pollution in Europe takes a different path than other countries. In Paris, the level of nitrogen dioxide, the primary factor in air pollution, was found to have decreased by 54% compared to the previous year, while in Madrid, the capital of Spain, Rome, the capital of Italy, and Milan, air pollution levels fell by 45%. The air quality index (HKI), which rose in July as a result of declining air quality, declined again after mid-August, as life continued to be controlled for some time with the second wave of coronavirus in Europe. A similar trend is observed in most cities in Europe.

Air quality increased by 60% in New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world

The analyzed data also revealed that there are significant improvements in air quality in New Delhi, Wuhan and Seoul, which are among the cities with the lowest air quality in the world. The PM2.5 level of New Delhi, the capital of India, which is among the cities with the dirtiest air in the world, decreased by 60% between 23 March and 13 April compared to the previous year. In New Delhi, the PM2.5 level has dropped from about 80 µg / cubic meter to about 30 µg / cubic meter. Air pollution levels are seen at about 30 µg/cubic meter, according to weekend data.

In Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus was first detected, it was found that air pollution decreased by 44% compared to the previous year between February 3-24. In Wuhan, the PM2.5 level has dropped from about 60 µg / cubic meter to about 30 µg / cubic meter. According to the latest investigations, according to the air quality of Wuhan at the weekend before the coronavirus; No change was noted compared to the coronavirus intense period, and the PM2.5 level was found to be approximately 30 µg / cubic meter.

Finally, a 50% decrease was observed in the PM2.5 level of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, between February 26 and March 18. In Seoul, the PM2.5 level has dropped from about 50 µg / cubic meter to about 25 µg / cubic meter. According to Seoul's data from last week, the PM2.5 level was 15.2 µg / cubic meter, decreasing 39.2% more.