Evaluation of traffic related air pollution in Istanbul, Turkey

In this study, eighty four daily fine particle (PM2.5) samples were collected in the period between 19.10.2006 and 02.07.2007 onto 37-mm diameter Teflon PTFE filters with a 2 µm pore size on alternate days continuously at Yýldýz Technical University Beþiktaþ campus by using Dichotomous Model 245 Sequential Air Sampler. Hourly air quality data, meteorological data and traffic data of Yýldýz area were also obtained from related institutions. During the study, daily PM2,5 and PM10 mass concentrations had exceeded international standards in several days and, consequently, air quality at Yýldýz area reached critical level for public health. General statistical tests were performed for all variables by using SPSS 15.0 software package. The correlation order of variables with PM2,5 is PM10 (0,272) > SO2 (0,259) > wind speed (-0,248) > wind direction (0,244) > NO2 (0,216) > NOx (0,188). Traffic parameters have indirect effect on PM2,5 mass concentration while both wind speed and wind direction have direct effects. As a result of linear regression between PM2,5 and other parameters, Model 3 (with 0,545 R value) was formed. Dependent parameters of this model are PM10, SO2, CO, NO, NO2, NOx, wind direction, wind speed and humidity.