This study compares the performance of imidacloprid, a low-toxicity synthetic insecticide, with green insecticides in managing Blattella germanica (L.) infestations and their impact on indoor air quality in food retail outlets located in shopping malls. Indoor air parameters (temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, CO₂, and TVOC) and cockroach counts were measured before and after treatment, and results were compared against DOSH (2010) guidelines. Imidacloprid concentrations remained below 0.1000 mg/m³, indicating no significant contribution to indoor air contamination. In contrast, green insecticides were associated with a potential long-term increase in cockroach infestations. Outlet A, located in a Green Building Index (GBI)-certified mall, demonstrated better ventilation compared to Outlet B. Findings suggest that while green insecticides align with sustainability goals, imidacloprid showed superior efficacy in suppressing cockroach populations without compromising indoor air quality.
Due to Turkey's developing economy, the demand for wood raw materials is increasing daily. Given that natural forests will face difficulties in meeting this demand in the coming years, the concept of "Industrial Plantation" is assuming a significant role in Turkish forestry. The General Directorate of Forestry planned plantations for 165.000 hectares in its "Industrial Afforestation Works Action Plan" covering the 2013-2023 period, with 145.000 hectares actually being realized. This study presents the history, potential, and challenges of plantations in Turkish forestry, and develops recommendations.
In response to demands from the forestry sector in Turkey, the forest management certification process according to the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) system began in 2010. Turkey has 18 FSC FM/CoC certificates under 17 FRDs (30 FRDs in total). A total of 11,450,701.12 ha of forest area has been certified (49% of the total forest area). Türkiye's total forest area is 23,363,084.00 ha, of which 13,813,598.00 ha (59%) is productive forest. Accordingly, it is understood that a very large portion of the productive forest area has been certified. This study examines the functioning of the FSC process in Turkish forestry and its challenges, and proposes recommendations.
This work aims to develop an approach, from the point of view of sociological research, regarding the relationship between democracy and human rights. In this sense, it initially outlines some key elements of democracy and discusses some of its problematic aspects. It states, for example, that a representative system is not necessarily democratic. Then, the paper deals with the concept of human rights. It emphasizes that the protection of human rights and the rule of law, not only in developed but also in developing countries, is best achieved through a commitment to democratic principles. The experience of human rights and freedoms is necessary for democracy to function properly at all. In conclusion, it is stated that the guarantee of civil and political rights for the individual citizen plays a fundamental role in democracy. For instance, these rights are essential to secure the twin democratic principles of popular control and political equality in the system of collective decision-making.
This article studies air quality in some of the most polluted medium-sized cities in Central and Southern Chile, which have experienced high levels of coarse and fine particulate matter pollution in recent years. Since air quality is much better in spring and summer, the study focused on the winter period (from April 1 to August 31) and between 2018 and 2023, corresponding to the pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on air quality in ten urban areas declared saturated by air pollution. Elsewhere in the world, and during the same period, air quality improved due to a recession or decrease in human activity. This was due to the quarantine imposed on the global population when the WHO declared the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, this study detected a possible increase in environmental pollution between 2020 and 2022 in all the cities studied. The possible causes of this phenomenon are investigated. Finally, it was observed that the population was exposed to poor air quality throughout the study period in the different cities studied, which could have had very detrimental effects on the population's health.
