TÜBİTAK Funding for GTU’s Environment and Health-Oriented Project

May 18, 2026 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
 

— GTU’s doctoral research project focusing on air quality and human health has been selected for support under the TÜBİTAK 1002-A Rapid Support Module.

— The doctoral project conducted by Research Assistant Sultan Türkay focuses on determining the levels of volatile methyl siloxane compounds in various indoor environments in Istanbul and Kocaeli.

— The study will calculate the potential health risks of these chemical compounds for adults and children through inhalation and dust ingestion pathways.

— The findings are expected to help fill the knowledge gap in Türkiye and provide a scientific basis for future environmental and air quality policies.

The doctoral project investigating volatile methyl siloxane levels and their potential health risks in Istanbul and Kocaeli has been awarded support under the TÜBİTAK 1002-A Rapid Support Module.

The project titled “Determination of Volatile Methyl Siloxanes in Different Indoor and Outdoor Microenvironments in Istanbul and Kocaeli by Passive Sampling: Seasonal Distribution and Risk Assessment,” prepared within the scope of the doctoral research of Research Assistant Sultan Türkay from the Department of Environmental Engineering at Gebze Technical University (GTU), has been deemed eligible for support under TÜBİTAK’s 1002-A Rapid Support Module. The project will be supervised by Prof. Banu Çetin, a faculty member from GTU's Department of Environmental Engineering.

Under the project, the levels of volatile methyl siloxane compounds in indoor air, outdoor air, and indoor dust in densely urbanized areas of Istanbul and Kocaeli will be determined. The study will investigate cyclic and linear volatile methyl siloxane compounds across different microenvironments, including residences, offices, and classrooms.

In addition to determining environmental concentrations, the project will also evaluate potential human health risks by calculating exposure levels for adults and children through inhalation and dust ingestion pathways.

The results obtained are expected to contribute to indoor air quality studies, help address the lack of data in Türkiye regarding the environmental distribution of these compounds, and establish a scientific basis for future environmental policies related to human exposure.