The impacts of earthquakes on air pollution and strategies for mitigation: a case study of Turkey

Our plain-English summary of The impacts of earthquakes on air pollution and strategies for mitigation: a case study of Turkey, by A. Zanoletti, E. Bontempi (Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2024).

The study

• Authors: A. Zanoletti, E. Bontempi
• Journal: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
• Published: 2024;31(16):24662-24672
• Cited by: 8 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

This study delves into the repercussions of the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, particularity its impact on air pollution. A year post-event, it is evident that scientific literature has paid limited attention to monitoring the situation. However, the release of hazardous substances, such as asbestos, lead, and other toxins, from damaged structures poses a significant threat by contaminating nearby air, soil, and water sources, thereby jeopardizing ecosystems and public well-being. The improper disposal of waste post-earthquake and the presence of mining and oil refinery sites in the region contribute to potential air pollutants. These circumstances create challenging environments conducive to the spread of respiratory diseases, with potential long-term health and social consequences. Unfortunately, existing data gaps hinder a comprehensive understanding of the situation. This paper pioneers the reporting and analysis of data regarding potential sources of air pollution resulting from the earthquake in Turkey. It also pinpoints gaps in knowledge, outlining areas that demand further investigation. To effectively prevent and mitigate air pollution risks and associated health concerns linked to earthquakes, strategic recommendations are proposed. A key suggestion is the establishment of post-disaster air pollution monitoring systems capable of swiftly identifying emerging health issues, facilitating efficient responses, and curtailing potential long-term effects of the disaster. The paper underscores the necessity for continuous health monitoring of the affected population to mitigate possible adverse impacts on human health. These strategies play a pivotal role in reducing the likelihood of air pollution, supporting emergency response and recovery initiatives, and fostering new dedicated scientific studies.

© 2024. The Author(s).

In plain English

This article was a narrative review of possible sources of air pollution after the February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Turkey. The authors made no measurements. Their literature search found only two peer-reviewed papers on the topic, so they also used government, media, NGO and international reports. They compiled figures from other sources, including eighteen thousand collapsed buildings and fine-particle (PM2.5) levels above 70 μg/m3 on several days. On asbestos, which the article does not name by fiber type, they cited earlier reports of outdoor levels of 2.57 f/ml (fibers per milliliter), attributed to asbestos-containing white soils. They also cited Turkish consumption of 11,112 tons per year between 1999 and 2009. They cited a Guardian report of rubble and asbestos, and an estimate by the chairman of Turkey's Association of Asbestos Dismantling Experts that at least 3 million people would fall ill. The authors concluded that asbestos exposure would increase in the following months because of how building waste was being handled. They recommended air and health monitoring. They noted that detailed air pollution data were not available.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Narrative review and discussion (published as a 'short research and discussion article') based on a literature search plus government, media, NGO and international reports; no original measurements
• Who was studied: The area of southeastern Turkey affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. Using Turkish ministry data, the authors reported eighteen thousand collapsed buildings, with Hatay the most affected (5696).
• Exposure: Possible air pollutants from collapsed buildings, debris handling and mining sites: asbestos (fiber type not specified), PCBs, silica and lead, plus mercury and hexavalent chromium from wastes and mining sites, and dust and particulate matter generally
• Main results:
  • A Scopus search for 'earthquake' and 'air pollution' returned 101 papers, of which only four dealt with air pollution caused by an earthquake
  • One cited paper (Mohammad et al. 2023) reported an increase in respiratory visits to the Antakya hospital, based on personal communication with a University Hospital researcher
  • Citing Mohammad et al. 2023 (Copernicus data), PM2.5 concentrations above 70 μg/m3 were reported for several days between February 12 and 14 and after February 22
  • Citing UNDP, the earthquakes produced between 116 and 210 million tons of rubble
  • Citing earlier work, indoor asbestos concentrations in Turkey were higher than the standard level of 0.1 f/ml, and outdoor levels reached 2.57 f/ml, mainly from asbestos-containing white soils
  • Citing US Geological Survey data via Stayner et al. 2013, a total of 111,123 tons of asbestos (11,112 tons per year) was consumed in Turkey between 1999 and 2009
  • Six months after the earthquake, the Guardian published pictures of rubble and asbestos; the article attributed the asbestos to its extensive use in cement construction
  • The article reports an estimate by the Chairman of Turkey's Association of Asbestos Dismantling Experts that at least 3 million people will fall ill from asbestos exposure in coming years. No source is cited for this estimate.
  • Among recommended measures, the authors proposed considering safe removal of asbestos-containing material using in-situ immobilization techniques
  • The authors suggested monitoring systems able to estimate human exposure, along with regular health monitoring of people
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that exposure to asbestos would increase in the following months because of the building waste management procedures being applied
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Because few works exist on the subject, some of the cited literature refers to other kinds of natural disaster
  • Assessing long-term health effects would require more in-depth investigation
  • Detailed air pollution data from during and after the earthquake were not available
  • Information on how mining and similar human activities affect air pollution during extreme events is incomplete

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