Air pollution in Istanbul increased by 11% in August compared with the same month last year, according to a study by Istanbul Technical University (ITU).
The study, conducted by Dr. Hüseyin Toros, head of the Department of Climate Science and Meteorological Engineering at ITU’s Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, examined PM10, or particulate matter consisting of tiny airborne particles 10 micrometers or smaller, recorded across the city in August 2025 and August 2026.
Data from air quality monitoring stations operated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) were analyzed.
The average PM10 concentration recorded at 26 monitoring stations across Istanbul rose to 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter in August 2026, up from 28.87 micrograms per cubic meter in August 2025.
PM10 pollution increased at 17 of the 26 stations, while levels decreased at nine.
