Assessment of Particle Matter Pollution during Post-Earthquake Debris Removal in Adiyaman City

Severe earthquakes in the world and in Turkey can cause great loss of life and property, environmental problems and health problems. In addition to the loss of life and property, earthquakes are closely related to ecosystems, air, water, and soil pollution. Particularly in post-earthquake debris removal, very large amounts of particulate matter are released and may have negative effects on the health of the local population. This study aimed to detect two types of particle matter pollution during debris removal in 25 different locations in Adiyaman City using a CEM DT 9880 particle matter measuring device in May and August 2023. PM2.5 and PM10 measurements, which have a significant impact on human health, were conducted in the field. The obtained data were analyzed using the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method in ArcGIS 10.7 software. Results showed that the highest particle matter pollution was identified in neighborhoods with extensive demolition. The highest PM2.5 pollution values were recorded in Barbaros Hayrettin, Hoca Omer, Yesilyurt, and Varlik neighborhoods, while the lowest was observed in Altinsehir and Yunus Emre neighborhoods with minimal demolition. As for PM10 pollution, the highest levels were observed in Alitasi, Barbaros Hayrettin, Sumerevler, and Hoca Omer neighborhoods, while the lowest was detected in Yunus Emre and Yesilyurt neighborhoods. Green areas and their surroundings in the field exhibited lower levels of PM pollution compared to other areas.