Following the earthquakes of February 6, which are considered the disaster of the century, work in the disaster area continues uninterruptedly. While teams work non-stop to heal the wounds of disaster victims, operators who do not act meticulously enough during the demolition of damaged buildings, especially in Hatay’s Antakya district, can cause both dust problems and the risk of asbestos harmful to health. While excavation work continues in Hatay, where 311 thousand independent houses collapsed after the earthquake, alarming results emerged from the research on the PM10 level, which is a determinant of air pollution.
THE DIRTYEST IS İSKENDERUN
In the research using data from air quality monitoring stations belonging to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in Hatay between February 6, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the district with the most polluted air was determined to be İskenderun. M.art While over 70 percent monthly data was obtained from all stations after 2023, PM 10 measurements above the limits were found in 37.7 percent of the province.
Within the scope of the research, the exceedance percentages across the province are listed by month as follows: August 57.8 percent, April 48.2 percent, March 47.8 percent, February 42.6 percent, July 35.7 percent, May 31.8 percent, September 25.2 percent, June 18 percent…
IT REACHED THE PEAK IN APRIL
On the other hand, when the number of exceedances by stations was examined, it was determined that there was an excess of 78.8 percent in Iskenderun central station, 38.6 percent in Samandağ station, 21.9 percent in Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, and 10.6 percent in Iskenderun station. The month with the highest exceedance was April with 85.7 percent in İskenderun Center and 48.1 percent in Hatay Mustafa Kemal University station.
WHO LIMITS EXCEEDED
As a result of the research conducted by Mehmet Erdem, Tacettin İnandı, Nazan Savaş, and Seçil Bal Cilli from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Tayfur Ata Sökmen Faculty of Medicine Department of Public Health, the following findings were listed: “While the month with the highest excess was August, throughout the entire period Iskenderun central station PM10 average was recorded as 83.9 and 65.9 microgram-cubic meters. WHO recommendation limits were exceeded in 24-hour PM10 levels in more than one third of the period we examined after the earthquake in Hatay. Post-earthquake PM10 levels threaten public health and are one of the important factors that reduce air quality. PM10 levels of stations close to residential areas are higher. “The month with the highest limit exceedance is August.”
THEY MUST WEAR A MASK
“An expected seasonal trend in PM10 levels has not been observed. Air quality measurement stations, which provide information to the public about air pollution, must be earthquake resistant, like all buildings. The fact that these stations are especially close to populated areas is important in terms of revealing public health problems.”
“Earthquake victims should be placed in temporary and permanent settlements, taking into account the wind direction, in a way that they will not be exposed to the dust created by the earthquake and related debris removal processes. In particular, dust dust caused by human activities should be done with wet work, trucks carrying rubble should be covered with tarpaulins, and the roads should be cleaned.” and in these works “It is of great importance for employees to pay attention to personal protective measures such as masks in order to reduce possible public health risks.”
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