Sibel Mentese - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sibel Mentese

Atmospheric Pollution Research, 2020

Organic air pollutants have considerable influence particularly on atmospheric chemistry, compare... more Organic air pollutants have considerable influence particularly on atmospheric chemistry, compared to other air pollutants. Traffic is one of the major sources of air pollutants occurred in Canakkale atmosphere by both remarkable road and marine traffic loads around the harbors. The aims of this study were finding the daily, week/weekend, and spatial variations of VOC at multiple sampling points of Canakkale and Kilitbahir. In this study, active air samples were collected from the major roads of Kilitbahir and Canakkale Harbors during rush hours and off-peak in 2018 summer. According to the measurement results, average levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were around 129 μg/m3 in Canakkale and 93 μg/m3 in Kilitbahir. Toluene was the most abundant compound. Average B: T: E: X ratio was calculated as 2.4:7.0:1:5.5 in Canakkale and 3.2:7.6:1:5.2 in Kilitbahir. According to the sampling points of both locations, levels of TVOC, benzene, toluene, and m,p-xylene in Canakkale ...

Journal of Chemical Metrology

On Earth, atmosphere interact with crust and thus simultaneously monitoring of environmental poll... more On Earth, atmosphere interact with crust and thus simultaneously monitoring of environmental pollution in both parts of the environment is important. Soil and rainwater samples were taken in different parts of Çanakkale, Turkey, in two seasons. Study sites laid along with the prevailing wind direction (from NE to SW) as wind has the potential to distribute pollutants emitted into the air throughout its path. The concentrations of selected elements were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Also, physical parameters such as pH, temperature, electrical conductivity of the rainwater and temperature and pH value of the soil samples were measured together with the meteorological parameters. Seasonal differences for the selected elements were insignificant in the soil samples (p>0.05), while some elements showed seasonal variations in the rainwater samples (p<0.05). The highest average heavy metal levels were found for Zn > Pb > Mn> Cu> Cd > Ni> Cr in the rainwater samples and Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Co in the soil samples, respectively. The highest enrichments were found for Pb in the rainwater and As in the soil samples. Elevated As levels occurred in the samples can pose a great risk for public health and agriculture.

The fact that there are no real borders between the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydro... more The fact that there are no real borders between the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere means that environmental pollution monitoring studies should not only include one of the environmental spheres. Thus, integrated environmental pollution assessment studies conducted in the biosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere promote the “whole system” approach. In this study, the aim was to determine the pollution in the atmosphere, soil, and plants by taking advantage of the high pollution accumulation characteristics of the mosses. Prevailing wind has the potential to distribute pollutants emitted into the air throughout its path. With this regard, soil, mosses, and atmospheric deposition samples were collected in Çanakkale, Turkey, in two seasons. Concentrations of selected elements were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. The enrichment factor of the selected elements in the soil, moss, and deposition samples was calculated. The highest enrichments wer...

Journal of Chemical Metrology

Dardanelles strait has a crucial importance on marine transport, splitting Çanakkale city. Combus... more Dardanelles strait has a crucial importance on marine transport, splitting Çanakkale city. Combustion-related anthropogenic sources emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air and they have public concern due to adverse health effects. In this study, composition of ambient VOCs across Dardanelles strait was monitored for 4 seasons over the year of 2018. A total of 12 sampling locations, including 5 locations on the European and 7 locations on the Asian seashores of Dardanelles strait were determined as sampling points. Standard methods were followed during the sampling and analysis of VOCs. VOCs samples were collected on thermal desorber tubes, containing sorbents of Tenax TA and Carbograph 1TD. Active VOC samples were collected by an air sampling pump and passive VOCs samples were exposed to air for 2 weeks. VOCs samples were analyzed by Thermal Desorber followed by Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detector. Target VOCs in this study were paraffins and aromatic hydroca...

Mühendislik Bilimleri ve Tasarım Dergisi

Bu çalışmada partikül madde (PM), karbondioksit (CO2) ve karbon monoksit (CO) seviyeleri farklı ö... more Bu çalışmada partikül madde (PM), karbondioksit (CO2) ve karbon monoksit (CO) seviyeleri farklı özellikteki iç ortamlar (evler) ve eş zamanlı olarak dış ortam havasında 1 yıllık süreyle ölçülmüştür. Çalışma, Çanakkale'nin üç ilçesindeki farklı örnekleme noktalarında aylık bazda yürütülmüştür. Çalışma sonucunda iç ortam hava kalitesinin evden eve farklılık göstermekle beraber, ilçeler arasında da farklılıklar gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. İç ortam havasında ölçülen ortalama PM ve CO2 seviyeleri azalan seviyelerde, sırasıyla, Çan, Lapseki ve Merkez ilçede değişim göstermiştir. İç ortamda ölçülen ortalama sıcaklık 22 °C ve ortalama bağıl nem seviyesi %49 civarındadır. Ölçümü yapılan parametrelerin (PM, CO ve CO2) genel olarak zamansal değişim gösterdiği ve genellikle konsantrasyonların kış aylarında yılın geri kalanına göre daha yüksek olduğu gözlenmiştir. Genel olarak, iç ve dış ortam havasında ölçülen PM, CO ve CO2 düzeyleri istatistiksel olarak anlamlı aylık değişim göstermiştir (p<0,05). Ölçülen hava kalitesi parametreleri için hesaplanan İç ortam/Dış ortam (İ/D) oranlarının genel olarak 1'den büyük olması, PM, CO ve CO2 seviyelerine iç ortam kaynaklarının katkısının önemli olduğuna işaret etmektedir. İç ortamlarda yeterli seviyede havalandırmanın yapılması ile hava sirkülasyonu arttırılarak iç ortam kirletici kaynakların etkisinin azaltılması mümkündür.

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

This study is aimed to investigate spatial and seasonal variations of air pollutants in Istanbul ... more This study is aimed to investigate spatial and seasonal variations of air pollutants in Istanbul between 2007 and 2017. Target air pollutants were carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ozone. Air quality data of the city of Istanbul were obtained from 31 continuous air quality monitoring stations located at the Anatolian and the European Sides of the city. Spatial and temporal variations of the air pollutants were assessed by statistical methods (p < 0.05). According to the results of this study, all air pollutants showed seasonal variations and all parameters were found to be higher during the heating periods than other periods (p < 0.05), except for ozone. The annual average values of carbon monoxide, particulate matter with diameter of less than 10 µm, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide (except for nitrogen dioxide levels measured in 2017) concentrations were below the national limit values in all stations between 2007 and 2017. In terms of yearly variation of the air pollutants, carbon monoxide and ozone showed statistically significant increasing trends (p < 0.001). Overall, once ten-years average air quality data were compared with current air quality limit values which was effective since 2019, PM and NO2 may have limit exceedance problems in the next years. Moreover, levels of particulate matter with diameter of less than 2.5 µm were measured at 3 air quality monitoring stations, exceeded both World Health Organization and European Union limit values. Furthermore, positive correlations were found among the air pollutants (p < 0.001).

Atmospheric Pollution Research

Abstract This comprehensive study aims to examine the relationships between ambient air quality (... more Abstract This comprehensive study aims to examine the relationships between ambient air quality (AAQ) and respiratory health of the participants residing in three different towns of Canakkale city, Turkey between August 2013 and 2014. AAQ measurements for bioaerosols, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total particulate matter (PM) count, carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) were performed and monthly pulmonary function test (PFT) was applied to volunteer participants residing in the study sites (n = 121) for one year. Additionally, concentrations of air pollutants for PM2.5/PM10, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides, and ozone were gathered from AAQ monitoring stations. To estimate the contributions of the emission sources and their effects on human health in the region, an emission inventory was also prepared in the region and AERMOD modelling system was applied for the year of 2013. Accordingly, the industry was the most polluting sector for NOx and SO2, while road traffic and residential heating were the most polluting sectors for CO and PM10. Factor analysis revealed that organics, combustion, bioaerosol propagation, and ozone accumulation contributed to AAQ, in agreement with AQ modelling results. Can had the worst air quality (industrialized site), which affected the respiratory health indicators of the participants. Generalized linear model estimated that PF of the participants varied according to the residing district, gender, suffering from asthma, and lifelong smoking or environmental tobacco smoke exposure (p

Atmospheric Pollution Research

Abstract Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can cause several respiratory diseases and symptoms. In th... more Abstract Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can cause several respiratory diseases and symptoms. In this study, IAQ of 121 homes located in 3 different towns of Canakkale, Turkey was monitored throughout a year. Target air pollutants were particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bioaerosols, and Carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as air temperature and humidity. Moreover, pulmonary functions of the occupants were measured on a monthly basis. Also, occurrence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and other health related data were gathered from the occupants by a detailed questionnaire. The SBS is a situation related to indoor air pollution in which the occupants of a building experience health or comfort related adverse effects that appear to be associated directly to the time spent in the “sick” building. Results of this study showed that the highest indoor air pollutant levels were observed in Can town and the lowest levels were observed in Central town. Indoor levels of bioaerosols, particulate matter, benzene, Cladosporium spp., and Penicillium spp. as well as pulmonary functions of the occupants showed statistically significant differences between the locations of the homes (p

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Few epidemiological studies investigating the association between air pollution and health are av... more Few epidemiological studies investigating the association between air pollution and health are available in Turkey. The aim of this cohort-type study is to examine the relationships between ambient air quality, respiratory diseases, and decreases in pulmonary function over a year in three different towns in Canakkale: Canakkale Central town (region I), Lapseki town center (region II), and Can town (region III). Region III had four different sub-regions, which were Can town center (region III-A), and the villages located around Can town, namely Durali (region III-B), Kulfal (region III-C), and Yuvalar (region III-D). In the first stage of the study, a detailed questionnaire was completed by the participants (n = 1152) in face-to-face interviews and pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed. In the second stage of the study, PFT measurements were repeated 1 year after the first stage. Particulate matter, SO2, NO2, and ozone were gathered from air quality monitoring stations located in the centers of the three regions. The most polluted area was region III, while region I and region II were the least polluted areas. The risk of pulmonary function decline throughout a year was 2.1 times higher in region III, 2.4 times higher both in regions III-B and III-C, and 1.6 times higher for smokers in all regions. In the present study, ambient air quality was worse in region III (industrialized region), which influenced PFT scores and the prognostics for chronic respiratory diseases. The findings of this study should be considered for future investment plans in this region related to human and environmental health needs.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

Abstract Biomarker measurements can provide unambiguous evidence of environmental exposures as we... more Abstract Biomarker measurements can provide unambiguous evidence of environmental exposures as well as the resultant biological responses. Firefighters have a high rate of occupational cancer incidence, which has been proposed to be linked in part to their increased environmental exposure to byproducts of combustion and contaminants produced during fire responses. In this article, the uptake and elimination of targeted volatile organic compounds were investigated by collecting the exhaled breath of firefighters on sorbent tubes before and after controlled structure burns and analyzing samples using automated thermal desorption-gas chromatography (ATD-GC/MS). Volatile organic compounds exposure was assessed by grouping the data according to firefighting job positions as well as visualizing the data at the level of the individual firefighter to determine which individuals had expected exposure responses. When data were assessed at the group level, benzene concentrations were found to be elevated post-exposure in both fire attack, victim search, and outside ventilation firefighting positions. However, the results of the data analysis at the individual level indicate that certain firefighters may be more susceptible to post-exposure volatile organic compounds increases than others, and this should be considered when assessing the effectiveness of firefighting protective gear. Although this work focuses on firefighting activity, the results can be translated to potential human health and ecological effects from building and forest fires.

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

ABSTRACT A non-targeted analysis workflow was applied to analyze exhaled breath samples collected... more ABSTRACT A non-targeted analysis workflow was applied to analyze exhaled breath samples collected from firefighters pre- and post-structural fire suppression. Breath samples from firefighters functioning in attack and search positions were examined for target and non-target compounds in automated thermal desorption-GC/MS (ATD-GC/MS) selected ion monitoring (SIM)/scan mode and reviewed for prominent chemicals. Targeted chemicals included products of combustion such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that serve as a standard assessment of exposure. Sixty unique chemical features representative of exogenous chemicals and endogenous compounds, including single-ring aromatics, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile sulfur-containing compounds, aldehydes, alkanes, and alkenes were identified using the non-targeted analysis workflow. Fifty-seven out of 60 non-targeted features changed by at least 50% from pre- to post-fire suppression activity in at least one subject, and 7 non-targeted features were found to exhibit significantly increased or decreased concentrations for all subjects as a group. This study is important for (1) alerting the firefighter community to potential new exposures, (2) expanding the current targeted list of toxicants, and (3) finding biomarkers of response to firefighting activity as reflected by changes in endogenous compounds. Data demonstrate that there are non-targeted compounds in firefighters’ breath that are indicative of environmental exposure despite the use of protective gear, and this information may be further utilized to improve the effectiveness of personal protective equipment.

Environmental Engineering and Management Journal

Indoor air quality (IAQ) improvement potential of rotor turbine ventilator (RTV) was researched b... more Indoor air quality (IAQ) improvement potential of rotor turbine ventilator (RTV) was researched by setting up an RTV on the outer part of the chimney of a kitchen, located in a "windy" city, Çanakkale, Turkey. Efficiency of RTV was assessed by preliminary tests, conducted in a three-storey restaurant. After obtaining positive results in terms of airborne bacteria count (TBC) from these tests, long-term measurements were carried out in a cafeteria by air sampling before and after setting up the RTV. In addition to airborne bacteria measurements, concentrations of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), Carbon monoxide (CO), Carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone and (fine and coarse) particulate matters (PM) were also measured before and after the RTV installation on the funnel of the cafeteria. Moreover, temperature and relative humidity were measured on-line, and the meteorological parameters were recorded. Furthermore, the number of people in the cafeteria during the air sampling was counted. After the RTV installation, levels of TBC, sum of PM, TVOC, and CO2 clearly decreased, while levels of ozone and CO showed no significant variation during the study. Overall, RTV has potential to improve IAQ, when combined with natural ventilation. In addition to examining the efficiency of RTV, cross-correlations were found among the air pollutants, meteorological/thermal comfort parameters, and the occupancy rate, regardless of the RTV installation. Moreover, statistically significant relationships (p<0.05) were found for number of people in the cafeteria and levels of both CO2 and TBC throughout the entire study.

AIMS Environmental Science

Crime is one of the most persistent genres in recent television history. Disability is a narrativ... more Crime is one of the most persistent genres in recent television history. Disability is a narrative device often used in this genre to provide information and motivation for criminals, increase the vulnerability of victims and in some cases attribute almost superhuman powers of deduction to the lead investigators. As such, the most common analysis of these images relies on the identification and criticism of stereotypes. Yet as recent theorization in disability studies argues, focusing on negative stereotypes has seen research into disability and television stagnate. Proceeding from the argument that it is important to consider both representation and accessibility in any study of disability and television, research into Australian audiences with disabilities was held to discover what they thought about both the representation of disability on television and the potential for alternative modes of access. The crime drama emerged as a popular genre amongst people with disabilities. Responses to this question reveal impairments have a material impact on the kinds of television people with disability are able to enjoy watching. This is in contrast to prior research into disability and television, which identifies crime genres as a disabling representation of disability. These insights reveal that forms of storytelling are important and indeed acknowledged by the disability community, who seek out popular forms of television despite television's traditional role in subordinating this group and excluding them from participating in the industry.

Journal of Chromatography A

Traditionally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis has used a targeted approach... more Traditionally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis has used a targeted approach called selected ion monitoring (SIM) to quantify specific compounds that may have adverse health effects. Due to method limitations and the constraints of preparing duplicate samples, the information that could be obtained from separately collecting the full scan chromatogram of the sample has often been sacrificed. However, a hybrid technique called synchronous SIM/scan mode that switches back and forth between the two acquisition methods has become available from equipment manufacturers that maintains the accuracy and sensitivity of SIM for targeted analysis while also providing the full scan chromatogram for discovery of nontarget compounds. We have explored the value and performance of this new technology using calibration data and real-world breath samples from a joint EPA/NIOSH collaboration that assessed the safety of firefighters' protective gear during controlled structural burns. Collecting field samples is costly and must be performed strategically to ensure that time points and replicates are accurate and representative of the intended population. This is especially difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish with firefighters who are working under volatile conditions. The synchronous SIM/scan method decreases the number of field samples that need to be collected by half and reduces error in trying to recreate time points since a breath sample from a single sorbent tube can be used to collect both the SIM and scan data simultaneously. This work demonstrates the performance of the technology using calibration data. As a practical demonstration of the method, we investigate thirty-six firefighter breath samples, document organic compounds of interest, and identify additional non-target compounds.

Aerobiologia, 2016

The more the mold species isolated on a culture medium, the more the sampling environment is repr... more The more the mold species isolated on a culture medium, the more the sampling environment is represented accurately. According to the sampling purpose, it is crucial to use the best culture medium for mold. However, no study is available regarding the comparison of dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol (DRBC) and Sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol (SDA-CHX-CHL) culture media in terms of their application for airborne sampling, isolation, and identification of fungi. Airborne mold samples were impacted onto both DRBC and SDA-CHX-CHL, simultaneously using single-stage Andersen sampler. The limit of detection (LOD) value for airborne mold count was 7 CFU m−3 (1 colony growth on the Petri dish). The total mold counts (TMC) ranged between <7 and 504 CFU m−3 (med 56 CFU m−3) and <7 and 1218 CFU m−3 (med 259 CFU m−3), collected on SDA-CHX-CHL and DRBC, respectively. Significantly higher TMC were observed on DRBC than on SDA regardless of the sampling environment (i.e, indoor or outdoor) (p < 0.05). Among the most predominant mold genera, observation frequencies of Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. on both culture media were found to be more than 70%. Observation frequencies of Cladosporium spp., Alternaria spp., and yeast were found to be higher in samples collected on DRBC than those on SDA-CHX-CHL. Finally, DRBC was found to be superior to SDA in terms of both number of colonies and number of genera isolated from the air.

There has been a growing concern about exposure to airborne bacteria and mold (bioaerosol) becaus... more There has been a growing concern about exposure to airborne bacteria and mold (bioaerosol) because of the related adverse health effects. In order to address the issue, this study has been performed to evaluate the bioaerosol exposure from various indoor environments of Ankara for the first time in Turkey. Bioaerosol samples were collected according to NIOSH-0800 standard method in 94 different indoor environments (houses, primary schools, kindergartens, libraries, laboratories, classrooms, offices, cafeterias, restaurants, and sport halls) and outdoor air in 2007-2008. Bacteria and mold samples were collected both during the winter and the summer to assess their seasonal variations. Air samples collected by Andersen-single stage bio-impactor on to plate count and blood agars for total bacteria count and bacteria identification, sabourod-antibiotic agar was used for mold count and identification. During the bioaerosol sampling, indoor and outdoor temperature (C), relative humidity (...

Ekoloji

Bioaerosol samples were collected from 10 different districts (Beytepe, Tandoðan, Dikimevi, Kýzýl... more Bioaerosol samples were collected from 10 different districts (Beytepe, Tandoðan, Dikimevi, Kýzýlay, Dikmen, Ulus, Altýndað, Kalaba, Ývedik and Demetevler) of Ankara city. In this study, spatial variation of both bacteria and mold levels and species were investigated in which ambient bioaerosol samples collected from these areas and influence of meteorological factors on bioaerosol levels were estimated by modeling. Total bacteria concentrations ranged between 160 and 1560 CFU m-3. Temperature values were between 27 and 40ºC; relative humidity values were 10-40% and CO2 concentrations varied between 310 and 353 ppm, which were measured simultaneously with the sampling. Total mold levels ranged between 40 and 85 CFU m2. The most predominant bacteria species observed in all districts were Micrococcus spp. and Bacillus species, while the most abundant mold were Exophiala, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium. According to regression model, it was estimated that meteorological fact...

Indoor and Built Environment, 2014

This study investigated levels of airborne bacteria in 90 indoor sampling sites with no known com... more This study investigated levels of airborne bacteria in 90 indoor sampling sites with no known complaints such as kindergartens, schools, homes and dorms over three seasons. Airborne bacteria samples were collected before and during the heating season in Çanakkale, Turkey. Also, a detailed occupant questionnaire was completed by one of the occupants ( n = 90) in each sampling site. Total bacteria counts (TBCs) were found to be higher in the sampling sites where coal was used as a heating source and in kindergartens where the occupancy rate was highest ( p

Atmospheric Pollution Research, 2020

Organic air pollutants have considerable influence particularly on atmospheric chemistry, compare... more Organic air pollutants have considerable influence particularly on atmospheric chemistry, compared to other air pollutants. Traffic is one of the major sources of air pollutants occurred in Canakkale atmosphere by both remarkable road and marine traffic loads around the harbors. The aims of this study were finding the daily, week/weekend, and spatial variations of VOC at multiple sampling points of Canakkale and Kilitbahir. In this study, active air samples were collected from the major roads of Kilitbahir and Canakkale Harbors during rush hours and off-peak in 2018 summer. According to the measurement results, average levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were around 129 μg/m3 in Canakkale and 93 μg/m3 in Kilitbahir. Toluene was the most abundant compound. Average B: T: E: X ratio was calculated as 2.4:7.0:1:5.5 in Canakkale and 3.2:7.6:1:5.2 in Kilitbahir. According to the sampling points of both locations, levels of TVOC, benzene, toluene, and m,p-xylene in Canakkale ...

Journal of Chemical Metrology

On Earth, atmosphere interact with crust and thus simultaneously monitoring of environmental poll... more On Earth, atmosphere interact with crust and thus simultaneously monitoring of environmental pollution in both parts of the environment is important. Soil and rainwater samples were taken in different parts of Çanakkale, Turkey, in two seasons. Study sites laid along with the prevailing wind direction (from NE to SW) as wind has the potential to distribute pollutants emitted into the air throughout its path. The concentrations of selected elements were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Also, physical parameters such as pH, temperature, electrical conductivity of the rainwater and temperature and pH value of the soil samples were measured together with the meteorological parameters. Seasonal differences for the selected elements were insignificant in the soil samples (p>0.05), while some elements showed seasonal variations in the rainwater samples (p<0.05). The highest average heavy metal levels were found for Zn > Pb > Mn> Cu> Cd > Ni> Cr in the rainwater samples and Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Co in the soil samples, respectively. The highest enrichments were found for Pb in the rainwater and As in the soil samples. Elevated As levels occurred in the samples can pose a great risk for public health and agriculture.

The fact that there are no real borders between the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydro... more The fact that there are no real borders between the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere means that environmental pollution monitoring studies should not only include one of the environmental spheres. Thus, integrated environmental pollution assessment studies conducted in the biosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere promote the “whole system” approach. In this study, the aim was to determine the pollution in the atmosphere, soil, and plants by taking advantage of the high pollution accumulation characteristics of the mosses. Prevailing wind has the potential to distribute pollutants emitted into the air throughout its path. With this regard, soil, mosses, and atmospheric deposition samples were collected in Çanakkale, Turkey, in two seasons. Concentrations of selected elements were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. The enrichment factor of the selected elements in the soil, moss, and deposition samples was calculated. The highest enrichments wer...

Journal of Chemical Metrology

Dardanelles strait has a crucial importance on marine transport, splitting Çanakkale city. Combus... more Dardanelles strait has a crucial importance on marine transport, splitting Çanakkale city. Combustion-related anthropogenic sources emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air and they have public concern due to adverse health effects. In this study, composition of ambient VOCs across Dardanelles strait was monitored for 4 seasons over the year of 2018. A total of 12 sampling locations, including 5 locations on the European and 7 locations on the Asian seashores of Dardanelles strait were determined as sampling points. Standard methods were followed during the sampling and analysis of VOCs. VOCs samples were collected on thermal desorber tubes, containing sorbents of Tenax TA and Carbograph 1TD. Active VOC samples were collected by an air sampling pump and passive VOCs samples were exposed to air for 2 weeks. VOCs samples were analyzed by Thermal Desorber followed by Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detector. Target VOCs in this study were paraffins and aromatic hydroca...

Mühendislik Bilimleri ve Tasarım Dergisi

Bu çalışmada partikül madde (PM), karbondioksit (CO2) ve karbon monoksit (CO) seviyeleri farklı ö... more Bu çalışmada partikül madde (PM), karbondioksit (CO2) ve karbon monoksit (CO) seviyeleri farklı özellikteki iç ortamlar (evler) ve eş zamanlı olarak dış ortam havasında 1 yıllık süreyle ölçülmüştür. Çalışma, Çanakkale'nin üç ilçesindeki farklı örnekleme noktalarında aylık bazda yürütülmüştür. Çalışma sonucunda iç ortam hava kalitesinin evden eve farklılık göstermekle beraber, ilçeler arasında da farklılıklar gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. İç ortam havasında ölçülen ortalama PM ve CO2 seviyeleri azalan seviyelerde, sırasıyla, Çan, Lapseki ve Merkez ilçede değişim göstermiştir. İç ortamda ölçülen ortalama sıcaklık 22 °C ve ortalama bağıl nem seviyesi %49 civarındadır. Ölçümü yapılan parametrelerin (PM, CO ve CO2) genel olarak zamansal değişim gösterdiği ve genellikle konsantrasyonların kış aylarında yılın geri kalanına göre daha yüksek olduğu gözlenmiştir. Genel olarak, iç ve dış ortam havasında ölçülen PM, CO ve CO2 düzeyleri istatistiksel olarak anlamlı aylık değişim göstermiştir (p<0,05). Ölçülen hava kalitesi parametreleri için hesaplanan İç ortam/Dış ortam (İ/D) oranlarının genel olarak 1'den büyük olması, PM, CO ve CO2 seviyelerine iç ortam kaynaklarının katkısının önemli olduğuna işaret etmektedir. İç ortamlarda yeterli seviyede havalandırmanın yapılması ile hava sirkülasyonu arttırılarak iç ortam kirletici kaynakların etkisinin azaltılması mümkündür.

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

This study is aimed to investigate spatial and seasonal variations of air pollutants in Istanbul ... more This study is aimed to investigate spatial and seasonal variations of air pollutants in Istanbul between 2007 and 2017. Target air pollutants were carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ozone. Air quality data of the city of Istanbul were obtained from 31 continuous air quality monitoring stations located at the Anatolian and the European Sides of the city. Spatial and temporal variations of the air pollutants were assessed by statistical methods (p < 0.05). According to the results of this study, all air pollutants showed seasonal variations and all parameters were found to be higher during the heating periods than other periods (p < 0.05), except for ozone. The annual average values of carbon monoxide, particulate matter with diameter of less than 10 µm, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide (except for nitrogen dioxide levels measured in 2017) concentrations were below the national limit values in all stations between 2007 and 2017. In terms of yearly variation of the air pollutants, carbon monoxide and ozone showed statistically significant increasing trends (p < 0.001). Overall, once ten-years average air quality data were compared with current air quality limit values which was effective since 2019, PM and NO2 may have limit exceedance problems in the next years. Moreover, levels of particulate matter with diameter of less than 2.5 µm were measured at 3 air quality monitoring stations, exceeded both World Health Organization and European Union limit values. Furthermore, positive correlations were found among the air pollutants (p < 0.001).

Atmospheric Pollution Research

Abstract This comprehensive study aims to examine the relationships between ambient air quality (... more Abstract This comprehensive study aims to examine the relationships between ambient air quality (AAQ) and respiratory health of the participants residing in three different towns of Canakkale city, Turkey between August 2013 and 2014. AAQ measurements for bioaerosols, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total particulate matter (PM) count, carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) were performed and monthly pulmonary function test (PFT) was applied to volunteer participants residing in the study sites (n = 121) for one year. Additionally, concentrations of air pollutants for PM2.5/PM10, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides, and ozone were gathered from AAQ monitoring stations. To estimate the contributions of the emission sources and their effects on human health in the region, an emission inventory was also prepared in the region and AERMOD modelling system was applied for the year of 2013. Accordingly, the industry was the most polluting sector for NOx and SO2, while road traffic and residential heating were the most polluting sectors for CO and PM10. Factor analysis revealed that organics, combustion, bioaerosol propagation, and ozone accumulation contributed to AAQ, in agreement with AQ modelling results. Can had the worst air quality (industrialized site), which affected the respiratory health indicators of the participants. Generalized linear model estimated that PF of the participants varied according to the residing district, gender, suffering from asthma, and lifelong smoking or environmental tobacco smoke exposure (p

Atmospheric Pollution Research

Abstract Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can cause several respiratory diseases and symptoms. In th... more Abstract Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can cause several respiratory diseases and symptoms. In this study, IAQ of 121 homes located in 3 different towns of Canakkale, Turkey was monitored throughout a year. Target air pollutants were particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bioaerosols, and Carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as air temperature and humidity. Moreover, pulmonary functions of the occupants were measured on a monthly basis. Also, occurrence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and other health related data were gathered from the occupants by a detailed questionnaire. The SBS is a situation related to indoor air pollution in which the occupants of a building experience health or comfort related adverse effects that appear to be associated directly to the time spent in the “sick” building. Results of this study showed that the highest indoor air pollutant levels were observed in Can town and the lowest levels were observed in Central town. Indoor levels of bioaerosols, particulate matter, benzene, Cladosporium spp., and Penicillium spp. as well as pulmonary functions of the occupants showed statistically significant differences between the locations of the homes (p

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Few epidemiological studies investigating the association between air pollution and health are av... more Few epidemiological studies investigating the association between air pollution and health are available in Turkey. The aim of this cohort-type study is to examine the relationships between ambient air quality, respiratory diseases, and decreases in pulmonary function over a year in three different towns in Canakkale: Canakkale Central town (region I), Lapseki town center (region II), and Can town (region III). Region III had four different sub-regions, which were Can town center (region III-A), and the villages located around Can town, namely Durali (region III-B), Kulfal (region III-C), and Yuvalar (region III-D). In the first stage of the study, a detailed questionnaire was completed by the participants (n = 1152) in face-to-face interviews and pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed. In the second stage of the study, PFT measurements were repeated 1 year after the first stage. Particulate matter, SO2, NO2, and ozone were gathered from air quality monitoring stations located in the centers of the three regions. The most polluted area was region III, while region I and region II were the least polluted areas. The risk of pulmonary function decline throughout a year was 2.1 times higher in region III, 2.4 times higher both in regions III-B and III-C, and 1.6 times higher for smokers in all regions. In the present study, ambient air quality was worse in region III (industrialized region), which influenced PFT scores and the prognostics for chronic respiratory diseases. The findings of this study should be considered for future investment plans in this region related to human and environmental health needs.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

Abstract Biomarker measurements can provide unambiguous evidence of environmental exposures as we... more Abstract Biomarker measurements can provide unambiguous evidence of environmental exposures as well as the resultant biological responses. Firefighters have a high rate of occupational cancer incidence, which has been proposed to be linked in part to their increased environmental exposure to byproducts of combustion and contaminants produced during fire responses. In this article, the uptake and elimination of targeted volatile organic compounds were investigated by collecting the exhaled breath of firefighters on sorbent tubes before and after controlled structure burns and analyzing samples using automated thermal desorption-gas chromatography (ATD-GC/MS). Volatile organic compounds exposure was assessed by grouping the data according to firefighting job positions as well as visualizing the data at the level of the individual firefighter to determine which individuals had expected exposure responses. When data were assessed at the group level, benzene concentrations were found to be elevated post-exposure in both fire attack, victim search, and outside ventilation firefighting positions. However, the results of the data analysis at the individual level indicate that certain firefighters may be more susceptible to post-exposure volatile organic compounds increases than others, and this should be considered when assessing the effectiveness of firefighting protective gear. Although this work focuses on firefighting activity, the results can be translated to potential human health and ecological effects from building and forest fires.

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

ABSTRACT A non-targeted analysis workflow was applied to analyze exhaled breath samples collected... more ABSTRACT A non-targeted analysis workflow was applied to analyze exhaled breath samples collected from firefighters pre- and post-structural fire suppression. Breath samples from firefighters functioning in attack and search positions were examined for target and non-target compounds in automated thermal desorption-GC/MS (ATD-GC/MS) selected ion monitoring (SIM)/scan mode and reviewed for prominent chemicals. Targeted chemicals included products of combustion such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that serve as a standard assessment of exposure. Sixty unique chemical features representative of exogenous chemicals and endogenous compounds, including single-ring aromatics, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile sulfur-containing compounds, aldehydes, alkanes, and alkenes were identified using the non-targeted analysis workflow. Fifty-seven out of 60 non-targeted features changed by at least 50% from pre- to post-fire suppression activity in at least one subject, and 7 non-targeted features were found to exhibit significantly increased or decreased concentrations for all subjects as a group. This study is important for (1) alerting the firefighter community to potential new exposures, (2) expanding the current targeted list of toxicants, and (3) finding biomarkers of response to firefighting activity as reflected by changes in endogenous compounds. Data demonstrate that there are non-targeted compounds in firefighters’ breath that are indicative of environmental exposure despite the use of protective gear, and this information may be further utilized to improve the effectiveness of personal protective equipment.

Environmental Engineering and Management Journal

Indoor air quality (IAQ) improvement potential of rotor turbine ventilator (RTV) was researched b... more Indoor air quality (IAQ) improvement potential of rotor turbine ventilator (RTV) was researched by setting up an RTV on the outer part of the chimney of a kitchen, located in a "windy" city, Çanakkale, Turkey. Efficiency of RTV was assessed by preliminary tests, conducted in a three-storey restaurant. After obtaining positive results in terms of airborne bacteria count (TBC) from these tests, long-term measurements were carried out in a cafeteria by air sampling before and after setting up the RTV. In addition to airborne bacteria measurements, concentrations of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), Carbon monoxide (CO), Carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone and (fine and coarse) particulate matters (PM) were also measured before and after the RTV installation on the funnel of the cafeteria. Moreover, temperature and relative humidity were measured on-line, and the meteorological parameters were recorded. Furthermore, the number of people in the cafeteria during the air sampling was counted. After the RTV installation, levels of TBC, sum of PM, TVOC, and CO2 clearly decreased, while levels of ozone and CO showed no significant variation during the study. Overall, RTV has potential to improve IAQ, when combined with natural ventilation. In addition to examining the efficiency of RTV, cross-correlations were found among the air pollutants, meteorological/thermal comfort parameters, and the occupancy rate, regardless of the RTV installation. Moreover, statistically significant relationships (p<0.05) were found for number of people in the cafeteria and levels of both CO2 and TBC throughout the entire study.

AIMS Environmental Science

Crime is one of the most persistent genres in recent television history. Disability is a narrativ... more Crime is one of the most persistent genres in recent television history. Disability is a narrative device often used in this genre to provide information and motivation for criminals, increase the vulnerability of victims and in some cases attribute almost superhuman powers of deduction to the lead investigators. As such, the most common analysis of these images relies on the identification and criticism of stereotypes. Yet as recent theorization in disability studies argues, focusing on negative stereotypes has seen research into disability and television stagnate. Proceeding from the argument that it is important to consider both representation and accessibility in any study of disability and television, research into Australian audiences with disabilities was held to discover what they thought about both the representation of disability on television and the potential for alternative modes of access. The crime drama emerged as a popular genre amongst people with disabilities. Responses to this question reveal impairments have a material impact on the kinds of television people with disability are able to enjoy watching. This is in contrast to prior research into disability and television, which identifies crime genres as a disabling representation of disability. These insights reveal that forms of storytelling are important and indeed acknowledged by the disability community, who seek out popular forms of television despite television's traditional role in subordinating this group and excluding them from participating in the industry.

Journal of Chromatography A

Traditionally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis has used a targeted approach... more Traditionally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis has used a targeted approach called selected ion monitoring (SIM) to quantify specific compounds that may have adverse health effects. Due to method limitations and the constraints of preparing duplicate samples, the information that could be obtained from separately collecting the full scan chromatogram of the sample has often been sacrificed. However, a hybrid technique called synchronous SIM/scan mode that switches back and forth between the two acquisition methods has become available from equipment manufacturers that maintains the accuracy and sensitivity of SIM for targeted analysis while also providing the full scan chromatogram for discovery of nontarget compounds. We have explored the value and performance of this new technology using calibration data and real-world breath samples from a joint EPA/NIOSH collaboration that assessed the safety of firefighters' protective gear during controlled structural burns. Collecting field samples is costly and must be performed strategically to ensure that time points and replicates are accurate and representative of the intended population. This is especially difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish with firefighters who are working under volatile conditions. The synchronous SIM/scan method decreases the number of field samples that need to be collected by half and reduces error in trying to recreate time points since a breath sample from a single sorbent tube can be used to collect both the SIM and scan data simultaneously. This work demonstrates the performance of the technology using calibration data. As a practical demonstration of the method, we investigate thirty-six firefighter breath samples, document organic compounds of interest, and identify additional non-target compounds.

Aerobiologia, 2016

The more the mold species isolated on a culture medium, the more the sampling environment is repr... more The more the mold species isolated on a culture medium, the more the sampling environment is represented accurately. According to the sampling purpose, it is crucial to use the best culture medium for mold. However, no study is available regarding the comparison of dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol (DRBC) and Sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol (SDA-CHX-CHL) culture media in terms of their application for airborne sampling, isolation, and identification of fungi. Airborne mold samples were impacted onto both DRBC and SDA-CHX-CHL, simultaneously using single-stage Andersen sampler. The limit of detection (LOD) value for airborne mold count was 7 CFU m−3 (1 colony growth on the Petri dish). The total mold counts (TMC) ranged between <7 and 504 CFU m−3 (med 56 CFU m−3) and <7 and 1218 CFU m−3 (med 259 CFU m−3), collected on SDA-CHX-CHL and DRBC, respectively. Significantly higher TMC were observed on DRBC than on SDA regardless of the sampling environment (i.e, indoor or outdoor) (p < 0.05). Among the most predominant mold genera, observation frequencies of Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. on both culture media were found to be more than 70%. Observation frequencies of Cladosporium spp., Alternaria spp., and yeast were found to be higher in samples collected on DRBC than those on SDA-CHX-CHL. Finally, DRBC was found to be superior to SDA in terms of both number of colonies and number of genera isolated from the air.

There has been a growing concern about exposure to airborne bacteria and mold (bioaerosol) becaus... more There has been a growing concern about exposure to airborne bacteria and mold (bioaerosol) because of the related adverse health effects. In order to address the issue, this study has been performed to evaluate the bioaerosol exposure from various indoor environments of Ankara for the first time in Turkey. Bioaerosol samples were collected according to NIOSH-0800 standard method in 94 different indoor environments (houses, primary schools, kindergartens, libraries, laboratories, classrooms, offices, cafeterias, restaurants, and sport halls) and outdoor air in 2007-2008. Bacteria and mold samples were collected both during the winter and the summer to assess their seasonal variations. Air samples collected by Andersen-single stage bio-impactor on to plate count and blood agars for total bacteria count and bacteria identification, sabourod-antibiotic agar was used for mold count and identification. During the bioaerosol sampling, indoor and outdoor temperature (C), relative humidity (...

Ekoloji

Bioaerosol samples were collected from 10 different districts (Beytepe, Tandoðan, Dikimevi, Kýzýl... more Bioaerosol samples were collected from 10 different districts (Beytepe, Tandoðan, Dikimevi, Kýzýlay, Dikmen, Ulus, Altýndað, Kalaba, Ývedik and Demetevler) of Ankara city. In this study, spatial variation of both bacteria and mold levels and species were investigated in which ambient bioaerosol samples collected from these areas and influence of meteorological factors on bioaerosol levels were estimated by modeling. Total bacteria concentrations ranged between 160 and 1560 CFU m-3. Temperature values were between 27 and 40ºC; relative humidity values were 10-40% and CO2 concentrations varied between 310 and 353 ppm, which were measured simultaneously with the sampling. Total mold levels ranged between 40 and 85 CFU m2. The most predominant bacteria species observed in all districts were Micrococcus spp. and Bacillus species, while the most abundant mold were Exophiala, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium. According to regression model, it was estimated that meteorological fact...

Indoor and Built Environment, 2014

This study investigated levels of airborne bacteria in 90 indoor sampling sites with no known com... more This study investigated levels of airborne bacteria in 90 indoor sampling sites with no known complaints such as kindergartens, schools, homes and dorms over three seasons. Airborne bacteria samples were collected before and during the heating season in Çanakkale, Turkey. Also, a detailed occupant questionnaire was completed by one of the occupants ( n = 90) in each sampling site. Total bacteria counts (TBCs) were found to be higher in the sampling sites where coal was used as a heating source and in kindergartens where the occupancy rate was highest ( p