Study of children’s health in Turkey
Particulates are becoming an ever bigger problem
A team of Dutch and Turkish universities and companies will be studying the relationship between air pollution and children’s health problems in Turkey. This activity is being supported by Nijmegen City Council and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This major investigation was initiated by Royal Haskoning, which will also be managing the project.
The overall project aims to translate scientific research conducted in the Netherlands into an awareness process among the local population in Turkey. It is expected to take three years.
Research has shown that in the Netherlands between 2300 and 3500 people a year die prematurely as a result of exposure to particulates. In the case of long-term exposure this number can even increase to as many as 24,000. The harmful effects of exposure to air pollution are also becoming more and more apparent in Turkey, particularly among children. A great deal of knowledge has been acquired in the Netherlands about air pollution, the related health problems and air quality improvement. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is therefore supporting this project through its Matra social transformation programme. The goal of the universities and companies taking part is to provide sustainable support to the local authorities and residents of the cities of Eskişehir and Iskenderun in improving the quality of the air in their living environment. These two Turkish cities are in an area with much (heavy) industry.
Lung function testing
Over the next few years the lung function of 4000 schoolchildren will be tested (in both the summer and the winter) in order to build up a picture of their state of health. The team will also support the local and provincial authorities in drawing up an air quality management plan. Consultant Franca Sprong explains. “The nuts and bolts of air pollution are still a relatively new area for Turkey. We want to contribute to creating awareness about the problem among the stakeholders. The first communication platforms have already been organised and the turnout was very promising. We want to use awareness created in this way to build up public support when it comes to taking important decisions about the environment. In the first instance we’re thinking primarily of the stakeholders involved, such as the provincial departments of environment and health, mayors, residents, industry (steel), gas and transport companies, and the universities of Antakya, Ankara and Eskişehir.”
IRAS
Royal Haskoning is participating in this project together with Nijmegen City Council, the Radboud University Nijmegen medical centre and the Institute for Risk Assessment Studies (IRAS). IRAS director (and project leader) Bert Brunekreef is pleased that his organisation can contribute to the success of this project. “The IRAS is interested in research into the effects of air pollution on health,” he explains. “There is as yet limited expertise available in countries like Turkey for conducting such investigations. Royal Haskoning is going to help to build up this expertise, with IRAS providing specialist support. The air pollution situation in Turkey differs from that in the Netherlands in a number of respects because the sources and climate are different. But that makes collaboration with Turkish partners all the more interesting for IRAS from a scientific point of view.”
Contactpersoon: Franca Sprong
+31 (0)10 2865 429
f.sprong@royalhaskoning.com
