The effect of air pollution on respiratory diseases in the era of global warming: Research from Turkiye

Abstract

Air pollution and climate change are interconnected, posing significant health risks. This study assesses air pollution levels in Türkiye, their link to respiratory disorders, and regional variations. Findings show that Istanbul, Türkiye's most populous city, has the highest patient count (mean ± SD: 387 ± 302). Positive correlations were found between air pollutants and patient numbers, except for ozone; sulfur dioxide showed the strongest correlation (r = 0.7). Multivariate regression indicated adjusted R2 > 0.5 in four regions. K-means++ clustering categorized regions by population density, with the largest cluster covering 28.3% of the dataset. These results underscore the impact of air pollution on respiratory health, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to reduce environmental risks and disease prevalence.