Effect of Pregnant Women's Fear of Covid-19 on Their Expectations, Experiences, and Reactions in The First Ultrasound Examination

This study aims to determine the effect of pregnant women’s fear of COVID-19 on their expectations, experiences, and reactions in the first ultrasound examination. This study was conducted with 166 pregnant women who visited the polyclinic in a Hospital of University, on the March and May, 2021 and, have an ultrasound examination for the first time. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and the Parents’ Expectations, Experiences, and Reactions to Routine Ultrasound Examination Scale (PEER-U). The average age of pregnant women was 29.02±5.56. While 15.1% had a COVID-19 positive history, 8.4% lost someone they knew due to COVID-19. FCV-19S score was found 18.26±5.32. Fear of COVID-19 scores were higher in women who did not work and who had their first pregnancy.  While the mean score for PEER-U before was 59.05±6.99, the mean score for PEER-U after was 65.07±4.53. While a positive correlation was reported between FCV-19S and the scores for PEER-U before (r=0.392), no significant correlation was detected between FCV-19S and the scores for PEER-U after.  Pregnant women were found to experience an average fear of COVID-19. It was found a correlation between COVID-19 and the scores for PEER-U before. The fear of COVID-19 and the scores for PEER-U before were found to be affected by some socio-demographic characteristics

Personal exposure of commuters in public transport to PM2.5 and fine particle counts

To investigate fine particulate air pollution generated by public transport and its microenvironment, PM2.5 measurements and particle number counts for six particle size ranges (0.3-0.5 mu m, >0.5-1.0 mu m, >1.0-3.0 mu m, >3.0-5.0 mu m, >5.0-10 mu m and >10 mu m) were obtained for four public transport modes: bus, metro-bus, car and walking. The measurements were repeated for each transport mode twice a day for 7-10 measurement days. The highest average PM2.5 concentration was measured inside a bus (106 mu g/m(3)) during rush hours. The highest single peak measurement was a concentration of 316 mu g/m(3) for walking during non-rush hours. The PM2.5 level in a car with the air conditioning fan off was approximately 2.5 times lower than the level with the air conditioning fan on. Moderate correlations were found between PM2.5 concentrations and wind speed. Weak correlations were found between PM2.5 concentrations, relative humidity and temperature. The results showed that the diameters of most of the particles were smaller than 0.5 mu m, regardless of the transport mode. The average fine particle number (size range 0.3-0.5) for all transport modes ranged from 54 647 to 209 746 particles/10(3) cm(3) during rush hours and from 49 423 to 184 866 particles/10(3) cm(3) during non-rush hours

Assessment of fine particulate matters in the subway system of Istanbul

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at six subway stations. The PM2.5 levels were compared at the platforms, inside the trains' cabin and at the train driver's cabin in the first section of the train. The measurements were grouped into three sections: (1) six underground platforms, (2) trains' cabin and (3) train driver's cabin in the Aksaray-Airport light metro line (M1) and the Taksim-4. Levent metro line (M2). On average, the highest PM2.5 concentrations were recorded in the underground platforms. The average daytime PM2.5 concentrations varied from 49.3 to 181.7 mu mg.m(-3) at the two subway line platforms. The PM2.5 levels measured at five stations were higher than the ambient air PM2.5 standard declared by US-EPA, given as 35 mu g.m(-3) for a 24-h arithmetic mean. The second highest PM2.5 concentration was recorded inside the trains (61 to 73 mu g.m(-3)), followed by train driver's cabin (50 to 74 mu g.m(-3)) of the M1 and M2 lines. When the train was in the subway tunnels, the PM2.5 concentrations increased. The correlation (R-2) between the PM2.5 level on the platform and the depth of the underground stations was 0.88 (p<0.01). The highest PM2.5 levels were recorded in the morning and evenings