Linking Outdoor Particulate Pollution to Children’s Negative Experiences of Their Neighbourhoods: Findings from an Interdisciplinary Research Project in Ankara

Abstract

This study aimed to understand whether children living in neighbourhoods with higher particulate matter (PM) concentrations report more air pollution-related issues than children living in neighbourhoods with lower PM concentrations and whether these issues vary across neighbourhoods with different built environment characteristics. Data were drawn from participatory mapping activities with 9–14-year-old children living in eight neighbourhoods of Ankara, Türkiye, objectively analysed urban form characteristics of these neighbourhoods, and PM2.5 and PM10 measurements in children’s places in a heating and non-heating season. Results show that as the built environment characteristics and PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations of children’s neighbourhoods change, the proportions of air pollution-related issues reported by children alter.