Air pollution in Istanbul is raising the alarm: The most polluted district has been identified

İstanbul’s air pollution rose 10.3% in October compared with the same month last year, with Sultangazi named the most polluted district and Üsküdar the cleanest. The increase signals a worsening trend in Turkey’s largest city despite seasonal and regulatory efforts to curb emissions. Sultangazi’s ranking puts the district at the center of local air-quality scrutiny, while Üsküdar offers a benchmark for cleaner outcomes. Watch whether the October rise persists through winter, when heating demand typically pushes pollution higher, and whether municipal measures target the worst-hit districts.