sexta-feira, outubro 28, 2011

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN KOCAELİ


In terms of surface area, Kocaeli is a small city in Turkey. However, the city has a large market share within the industry. In Kocaeli, the most important cause of pollution is the migration from rural area to urban area, fast and bad construction and also inadequate infrastructure. In addition, the city of Kocaeli has the large scale of air pollution. The major causes of air pollution are the purpose of heating fuels, motor vehicles and industrial pollutants. Industrial air pollution of Kocaeli is consequence of the general pollutants from flue gases and other pollutants of the industry due to the shape and type of organic and inorganic. In a study conducted by the Engineering Faculty of Middle East Technical University, the total emissions from the industry boiler chimneys are as follows:
CO emissions: 992,54 tons/year
Nox emissions: 2.330,48 tons/year
HIC emissions: 71.765,90 tons/year
Particulate emissions: 26.606,36 tons/year
Sox emissions: 287,06 tons/year.
The most pollutant metal is the industry of chemical, paper, petroleum and petroleum products. In the past years in Gebze and Dilova, according to measurements of PM and SO2; the highest value of PM was observed in February in Gebze (69 mg/m3) and in August in Dilova ( 55 mg/m3 ). The highest value of SO2 was observed in February in Gebze ( 218 mg/m3 ) and in January in Dilova (152 mg/m3).
The above historical data and warnings for the past years were not taken into consideration by the authorities. Therefore, the pollution of Gebze was increased. The disinterest from the poor living conditions, has led to an increase in heart and cancer diseases in Gebze.
The most influential factor of regional pollution is the creek of Dil. One of the reasons for the pollution of the Gulf of Kocaeli is uncontrolled waste (percentage of 25%). Today, the Gulf of Kocaeli is very dirty and also the pre-existent live varieties declined rapidly. In the Gulf of Kocaeli industrial and domestic waste water constitute a very big problem. Lots of industrial companies throw chemical waste to the creek of Dil.
In Kocaeli the transportation is very easy. The city is crossed by the E-5 highway. The city is structured according to the North- South direction. The industries are placed near the city. Visual pollution is rapidly growing because, in the same path the population increases, the illegal structures are also increasing. So, the roads of the city are turning too narrow and parking problems are also increasing. By the contrary, the green areas are becoming too scarce. Furthermore, there are lots of slums in the city.
What are the solutions to air pollution and what to water and visual pollution? What can be done?
1. to switch to the use of natural gas
2. to impose the use of filters by industries
3. air pollution measurements should be done
4. the supply of green spaces should increased
5. modern housing estates should be produced
6. thermal power plants should be removed
7. wastes should be subjected to purification.

Ömer Cihat KOCA

[Artigo de opinião produzido no âmbito da unidade curricular “Economia Regional” do 3º ano do curso de Economia da EEG/UMinho]

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