Objective: Air pollution reaches the systemic circulation in and through the lungs, causing a decrease in respiratory functions, respiratory tract infections, the development of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and an increase in exacerbations.There is no study in medical literature showing the relationship between air pollution and lower respiratory tract infection emergency service admissions in Ankara. This study aims to show the relationship between air pollution and the rate of Emergency Department Visits (EDVs) of patients with chest dieseases. Material and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in AnkaraAtatürk Training and Research Hospital using medical records belonging to 302 EDVs for respiratory diseases. The data on ambient SO 2 and PM 10 levels corresponding to the EDV dates were retrieved from the National Air Quality Monitoring Network website. The demographics and clinical data gathered from electronic files of patients were compared with the levels of air pollutants.Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 20.0In the study, demographic characteristics, symptoms and diagnosis of the admission to the emergency department, arterial blood gase (pH, PaCO 2 , PaO 2 , SO 2 ), complete blood count, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels of the patients were examined.Results: Among chest diseases EDVs, 11.6% of the patients had asthma, 33.1% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 13.9% pulmonary thrombo embolism, 44.7% pneumonia, 11.2% bronchiectasis, % 4 had interstitial lung disease, 2% had lung cancer and 44.7% had obstructive pulmonary disease. 87.7% of the patients presented with cough, 40.4% with sputum, 64.9% with shortness of breath, 37.4% with chest pain, 6% with hemoptysis and 27.8% with other symptoms.It was determined that SO 2 and PM 10 levels, which are among the air pollutant parameters, were at the highest values in December at the time of admissions to the emergency service. Air pollution parameters were found to be significantly higher in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and obstructive pulmonary diseases compared to those without the disease (p<0,05). Air pollution parameters were found to be significantly higher in patients with cough, sputum, shortness of breath, and chest pain compared to those without these symptoms. Conclusion:As the level of air pollution increases, the number of applications to the emergency room due to chest diseases increases and this is especially correlated with the increase in SO 2 ,

Objective: Studies have investigated the effects of lockdowns on air quality around the world and found that fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide concentrations decreased due to reduced human activity, while ozone concentrations increased. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation between daily stringency index values of our country and daily PM 10 , nitrogen dioxide, and ozone measurements in different districts of Istanbul between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022. Material and Methods: Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and National Air Quality Monitoring Network data on Istanbul air quality monitoring stations were used. The analysis included 15 stations that can monitor at least 75% of the days in a year. PM 10 , nitrogen dioxide, and ozone were the main pollutants analyzed. Results: There was negative correlation between daily PM 10 measurements and daily stringency index values in 3 stations; there was positive correlation in 6 stations. Between daily stringency index values and daily nitrogen dioxide measurements, there was a negative correlation in 3 stations and a positive correlation in 1 station. The daily measurements of 1 station showed a negative correlation with the daily values of stringency index for both PM 10 and nitrogen dioxide. In 1 station, while PM 10 measures were negatively correlated with stringency index, nitrogen dioxide measurements were positively correlated. Conclusion: This study showed that pandemic limitations could not improve Istanbul’s air quality everywhere. For adequate evaluation of impact of the limitations on air quality, it may be more relevant to study the socioeconomic infrastructure of each living area, the sociospatial inequality, industrial employment, the number of households, the density of employee class, and so on with all influencing factors that could have contributed to these various changes.

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INTRODUCTION: Particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen oxide compounds are the main air pollutants. The purpose of this research is to analyze the five-year air quality of Istanbul and examine the effect of movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic on pollutants. METHODS: The public data of the National Air Quality Observation Network has been utilized. The research has been conducted based on the five-year daily averages of PM10, NO2, and NOx pollutants for Istanbul between 2016 - 2020. The data of stations which measured for 75% and more throughout the year has been used. The effect of lockdowns enforced due to COVID-19 was revealed by comparing data of pollutants from April and May of 2020 to the same period in 2019. RESULTS: There were 12 stations between 2016 – 2018, and 39 stations in 2019 and 2020 which measured particulate matter and nitrogen oxide compounds. Only 9 stations reached the standard of measuring pollution for 75% and more throughout the year. The PM10, NO2, and NOx levels measured by all the 9 stations between 2016 - 2020 are above the limit values set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The lockdowns in 2020 have not been helping improvements in air pollution issue. However, there have been regressions of 33.4%, 59.6%, and 52.6% in the overall average particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen dioxide concentrations during the lockdowns between 23-26 of April, 1-3 of May, and 23-26 of May, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The air pollution issue in Istanbul has not improved in a meaningful and significant manner for the last five years. There is a significant deficiency in measuring traffic pollution. It has been found that two days long lockdowns and physical movement restrictions due to COVID-19 have significantly contributed to a significant regression in the overall concentration of air pollutants.