Air Pollution Assessment in Turhal District: Temporal Analysis of Pollutants

Abstract

Since the last century, the rapidly increasing global population, along with industrialization and urbanization, has increased the type and amount of pollutants in the atmosphere. Particularly, the dependency on fossil fuels for energy production, transportation, and industrial activities has become one of the main sources of air pollution. This has led to an air pollution problem that negatively affects the quality of life in urban areas. However, in this study conducted in the Turhal district of Tokat, an optimistic development has been observed in recent years. Based on the data obtained from the air quality monitoring stations located in the region, the concentrations of pollutants such as PM10, NO2, NOX, and SO2 have been thoroughly examined. The analysis results indicate a significant decreasing trend in the concentrations of these pollutants from 2020 to 2023. This positive trend can be attributed to the increasing awareness of environmental protection, technological innovations, and societal consciousness. The study demonstrates the positive impacts on regional air quality during this period.