The Evaluation of Air Pollution and Meteorological Parameters in Ergene Basin Consist of Three Cities in Turkey

13th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference, SGEM 2013 -- JUN 16-22, 2013 -- Albena, BULGARIAGlobally, the main anthropogenic air pollutants condense in city centers. The major source of urban air pollutions are traffic, industry and heating systems. The meteorological and topographical structures of cities and urban settlements are affected to air pollutants' dispersion, deposition and chemical conversion processes dramatically. The different air pollutants have negative effect on environment and human health. For each air pollutants' duration and other characteristics have different impact on human health. The aim of this study is examining and determining the relation of each other the temporal distribution of daily, monthly and seasonal SO2 and PM10 the mass concentrations in Ergene Basin. Ergene Basin, covering a wide area of the province consists of three cities named Tekirdag, Edirne and Kirklareli. The population of this area approximately is 3 million people and this population is under risk of different environmental pollution such as air pollution. During the working period, the average concentrations of SO2 and PM10 mass are monitored every 24 hour, these average concentrations are in order of 59,61 mu g/m3 and 68,97 mu g/m3. The concentrations of SO2 and PM10 are higher in winter season than the other months because in winter season the combustion of fossil fuel is high for heating. The highest average monthly concentration of SO2 is in February and for PM10 is in December. The lowest concentration is in July for both pollutants. The results show that how urban heating are contributed to increase in SO2 and PM10 concentration. According to result of this study SO2 and PM10 episodes are affected by meteorological parameters. While the relative humidity and clouded is directly proportional with PM10 episodes contrarily the temperature is inversely proportional with SO2 and PM10 episodes As a result of the analysis, it has been determined that meteorological parameters have effects on SO2 and PM10 episodes

Fine and coarse particulate matter, trace element content, and associated health risks considering respiratory deposition for Ergene Basin, Thrace

Ergene Basin is located in Thrace, Turkey, where industries are densely populated. This study aimed to determine exposure of people living in Ergene Basin (Corlu and Cerkezkoy) to fine and coarse PM, and its potentially toxic element (PTE) content by considering variation in respiratory airway deposition rates with daily activities and PM particle size by employing deposition models of International Commission on Radiological Protection and Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry. Fine and coarse PM samples were collected daily for a year at points in Corlu and Cerkezkoy representing urban and industrial settings, respectively. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the study area to obtain time-activity budgets, and associated variation was included in the health risk assessment by considering time-activity-dependent inhalation rates. The studied PTEs were Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Se. The mean fine and coarse PM concentrations were measured as 23 and 14 mu g/m(3) in Corlu, and 22 and 12 mu g/m(3) in Cerkezkoy, respectively. The only PTE that exceeded acceptable risk in terms of total carcinogenic risk was Cr. Non-carcinogenic risks of all the PTEs including Cr were below the threshold. The use of deposition fractions in the health risk assessment (HRA) calculations was found to prevent overestimation of health risks by at least 91% and 87% for fine and coarse PM, respectively, compared to the regular HRA. Minor differences in risk between Corlu and Cerkezkoy suggest that urban pollution sources could be at least as influential on human health as industrial sources. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [114Y576]This research was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Grant#114Y576

Existence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient particulate matter samples: A nationwide study in Turkey

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has been affecting the world since the end of 2019. The disease led to significant mortality and morbidity in Turkey, since the first case was reported on March 11th, 2020. Studies suggest a positive association between air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ambient particulate matters (PM), as potential carriers for SARS-CoV-2. Ambient PM samples in various size ranges were collected from 13 sites including urban and urban-background locations and hospital gardens in 10 cities across Turkey between 13th of May and 14th of June 2020 to investigate the possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient PM. A total of 203 daily samples (TSP, n = 80; PM2.5, n = 33; PM2.5-10, n = 23: PM10 mu m, n = 19; and 6 size segregated PM, n = 48) were collected using various samplers. The N1 gene and RdRP gene expressions were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to real time (RT)-PCR and three-dimensional (3D) digital (d) PCR analysis, dual RdRP and NI gene positivity were detected in 20 (9.8%) samples. Ambient PM-bound SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed quantitatively and the air concentrations of the virus ranged from 0.1 copies/m(3) to 23 copies/m(3). The highest percentages of virus detection on PM samples were from hospital gardens in Tekirdag, Zonguldak, and Istanbul, especially in PM2.5 mode. Findings of this study have suggested that SARS-CoV-2 may be transported by ambient partides, especially at sites close to the infection hot-spots. However. whether this has an impact on the spread of the virus infection remains to be determined. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved