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Premature deaths attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5 in Turkey

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Abstract

This research aims to reveal the premature deaths caused by long-term exposure to PM2.5 in 2018 in Turkey utilizing the AirQ+ program developed by the World Health Organization. Calculation of yearly average PM2.5 concentration in provinces, acreage of provinces, and the mortality rate of the at-risk population was the data required for the operation of the AirQ+ program. With the help of the AirQ+ program, the results revealed that a total of 44,617 people (95% CI 29.882–57.709) died prematurely due to sustained exposure to PM2.5 in Turkey in 2018. The highest estimated mortality proportion attributable to PM2.5 pollution was in the provinces of Igdir and Kahramanmaras. The highest estimated number of mortality cases per 100,000 population attributable to PM2.5 pollution was in the provinces of Manisa and Afyonkarahisar. This research points out that reaching the PM2.5 limits specified by the WHO could have prevented 44,617 premature deaths in the year 2018 in Turkey.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of our colleagues Prof. Osman Elbek and Associate Prof. Haluk Calisir for both their critical reading and constructive feedback. Also, we would like to thank Omer Erkmen who mapped estimated provincial mortality findings attributed to PM2.5 pollution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Bursa Uludag University, Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey

    Kayihan Pala

  2. Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gayrettepe Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Nilufer Aykac

  3. School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Icerenkoy mah. Kayisdagi cad. No: 32 34684 Atasehir, Istanbul, Turkey

    Yesim Yasin

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  1. Kayihan Pala
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  2. Nilufer Aykac
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Contributions

KP conceptualized the research, designed and supervised material development, data collection, analysis, literature review, writing, and critical review processes of the research. NA was involved in supervision, material development, literature review, writing, and critical review processes. Finally, YY was active in supervision while also contributing to the literature review, writing, and critical review of the research and manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yesim Yasin.

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Pala, K., Aykac, N. & Yasin, Y. Premature deaths attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5 in Turkey. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 51940–51947 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13923-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13923-5

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