Spatio-temporal analysis of PM_2.5 over Marmara Region, Turkey

Many studies have found adverse health effects of acute and chronic exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and in order to mitigate the harmful effects of particulates on human health, European Union (EU) legislation limit values have been set. The spatial and temporal distributions of particle mass is important to understand the source-receptor relationships at the only particulate matter monitoring region in Turkey (Marmara Region). In this study, the first fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) data of 13 in-situ sampling stations were used. Temporal variance results of PM_2.5 were compared in behalf of EU, United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and World Health Organizations (WHO) limit PM_2.5 values and cluster analysis were applied. The findings imply that despite significant improvements in air quality in recent decades, the levels of PM_2.5 in Marmara Region generate an intrivial risk to public health due to distorted and erroneous urban management strategies.