Air pollution ‘gravest environmental issue’

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

The most critical environmental problem in Turkey is air pollution, according to a study recently aired by the Environment and Urban Planning Ministry.

Air pollution, which threatens 79 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, is largely caused by fuel usage in homes, according to the ministry’s air pollution mapping.

The study came as an answer to Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Hüsamettin Zenderlioğlu’s parliamentary question regarding the ministry’s fight against environmental pollution, daily Cumhuriyet published on Dec. 31.

In 33 cities, air pollution is the biggest environmental problem, according to the study, and in Istanbul the biggest environmental problem is water pollution caused by industrial and home waste.

In Ankara, traffic causes air pollution and in the western province of Izmir waste pollution is the biggest environmental issue.

Water pollution, soil pollution, waste and ecocide followed.

Meteorological reasons, industry waste and traffic were stated as the reasons behind the pollution, but home waste ranked as the most tenacious source of pollution.