Air pollution in Turkish city examined

It has been reported that air pollution in the Turkish city of Ankara is above recommended levels.

Hurriyet reported that stations run by the country's Environment and Forest Ministry have shown pollution to stand at 5,070 micrograms per cubic metre.

The World Health Organisation states that anything above 300 micrograms is not ideal, the news provider related.

Discussing the situation, public health expert Dr Recep Akdur recommended that there be restrictions introduced on "industry, traffic and household heating".

He continued: "These pollution levels could adversely affect people, particularly babies, old people and those who suffer from respiratory system and cardiac diseases."

Another Turkish area, Diyarbakir, has introduced measures to curb pollution as it distributed 16,000 tonnes of coal to 13,000 families in 2008, the publication added.

In California last week, environmentalists welcomed new regulations designed to cap emissions from older diesel-fuelled vehicles.