The Slowing Traffic in Istanbul Increases the Risk of Cancer!

Chest Diseases Specialist Dr. Asst. "We know that there is a proven individual risk of lung cancer for each of the chemicals released from the exhaust. Terminate any external ventilation of the vehicle to minimize the risk of harmful gasses."

Traffic density has increased considerably as a result of the restrictions imposed after the coronavirus outbreak and the fact that citizen prefers to travel by their own vehicle instead of public transportation. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Yücelen stated that there was a half slowdown in Istanbul traffic compared to previous years, especially in the evening hours. Stating that the risk of cancer increased in parallel with the time remaining in traffic, Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Chest Diseases Specialist Dr. Asst. Seha Akduman warned "We know that there is an individual proven risk of lung cancer for each of the chemicals released from the exhaust. Terminate any external ventilation of the vehicle to minimize the risk of harmful gasses." Traffic density is increasing considerably throughout Turkey before the curfew, which started at 21.00 on weekdays. The fact that citizens hesitate to use public transportation due to the risk of coronavirus and go into traffic with their private vehicles increases this density.

Explaining that there has been a greater increase in traffic in winter according to their research in the last 5 years, Yeditepe University, Faculty of Commercial Sciences, Faculty Member, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Yücelen said, "In the previous period, people lost about 20-30 minutes of 1 hour in traffic, while this period increased to 40 minutes in winter. However, this winter season has its own characteristics. We started to observe different dynamics. In addition to the traffic density normally seen in the morning and evening, we have seen that the traffic density, which is normally at 20 percent during the day, has reached 60 percent in some main arteries. There are reasons for this because of the pandemic period we are in."

"Avoiding Public Transportation Vehicles"

Expressing that people spend more time with their own private vehicles in this process, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Yücelen said, "There was an avoidance of public transportation in this process. Due to weekend and nighttime restrictions, people had to compress their work to certain hours. The fact that people in certain age groups are on leave at certain time intervals is another factor that causes traffic density during the day. We observed that the speed, which fell to 24-27 kilometers per hour after work in the evenings in the last winter months, decreased to 13-14 kilometers this winter (from December). There is a slowdown of almost half in the evening."

"Cancer Risk in Each of the Exhaust Chemicals"

Reminding that heavy metals from the exhausts of vehicles in traffic, especially carcinogens such as lead, arsenic, and sulfur, are released very intensively, Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Chest Diseases Specialist Dr. Asst. Seha Akduman said: "We know that the risk of cancer increases with prolonged inhalation of these carcinogenic heavy metals. Well, if we say which type of cancer is increasing the most, lung cancer takes the first place. Studies conducted for many years have shown the effects of these substances, especially in traffic officers. Today's studies also support this. Each of the chemicals released from the exhaust has a proven risk of lung cancer. We say that if you are exposed to these for a long time, the risk of cancer will increase." In order to minimize our exposure to harmful gasses while in the vehicle, Dr. Asst. Seha Akduman suggested that the car should stop ventilating from the outside and provide it from the inside, "It is very important to ensure that the air to be taken from the outside is filtered and delivered into the vehicle and that the filters of the air conditioners are cleaned and maintained regularly".

"Ventilation of Houses Should Be Done When the Traffic Is Calm"

Lastly, Akduman reminded people whose homes are close to the points where traffic is heavy and warned: "We definitely recommend walking exercise for asthma and COPD patients. The exercises we recommend should be done in areas away from traffic, as they carry a carcinogenic risk and trigger respiratory cancers. We recommend that these walks be made especially in parks, gardens, and beaches. People who live in places where traffic is heavy should ventilate their homes when traffic hours are calm. If it can be changed, I would like to emphasize that it is important to move them to areas where the traffic load is light. What is also true for a child, baby, or teenager whose lungs are developing is that heavy metals and carcinogens are not inhaled. When developing lungs are exposed to heavy carcinogens, these children's susceptibility to allergies increases, and their carcinogen exposure increases. The lung development of these children will be somewhat lower than that of children who are not exposed to such substances."