Objectives Very few studies have investigated the incidence and risk of malignant mesothelioma (MM) associated with distinct sources of asbestos exposure, especially exposure to naturally occurring asbestos (NOA). Methods Subjects were MM, lung, and breast cancer patients who were diagnosed and followed in Diyarbakir Province between 2008 and 2013. The birthplaces of patients were displayed on a geologic map. Geological and meteorological effects on MM were analyzed by logistic regression. Results A total of 180 MM, 368 breast, and 406 lung cancer patients were included. The median distance from birthplace to ophiolites was 6.26 km for MM, 31.06 km for lung, and 34.31 km for breast cancer (p \ 0.001). The majority of MM cases were seen within 20 km from NOA areas. The MM incidence inside of NOA was 1059/100.000, and out of NOA was 397/100.000; this difference was significant (p = 0.014). The largest concentration of MM residential areas was within ±30°(34 residential areas 36.6 %) of the dominant wind direction. Most MM patients were found in or near the dominant wind direction, especially in the acute angle defined by the dominant wind direction. MM incidence was directly proportional to {[area of NOA (km 2 )] * [cosine a of wind direction angle]} and was inversely proportional to the square of the distance (R = 0.291, p = 0.023).Conclusions MM was higher near NOA and in the downwind direction. MM incidence and risk were affected by geological and meteorological factors.

The geochemistry and mineralogy of a condensed section, *6 m thick of the West Kasrik member (Coniacian-Santonian) near the uplifted northern flank of the Mardin-Derik anticline (south-eastern Turkey) was studied. The only deposit exploited in Turkey is found in this area. The sediment textures as well as the mineralogical and the geochemical results collectively suggest that these recycled phosphorites accumulated in areas of intensive very early diagenesis of the sediments in highly oxic bottom waters, and almost no detrital apport. The total concentration of redox-sensitive trace metals is very low (\600 lg/g); in addition the structural CO 2 and F/P 2 O 5 are unusually high (*5 wt % and 0.14, respectively). REE distribution shows a clear ''seawater'' pattern with a strongly negative Ce-anomaly (0.20 ± 0.02) and heavy REE enrichment (Lu N /La N = 1.50 ± 0.12), however their total concentration is very low. The low REE contents, quite unexpected in recycled phosphorites, are explained by the scarcity of terrigenous components which leads to minimal incorporation of REEs from detrital clastic phases in the CFA fraction. Weathering previously suggested as responsible for the high P enrichment of the Mazidagi phosphorites is rather improbable in the samples we studied, in view of their high structural CO 2 , high F/P 2 O 5 , high (La/Nd) N and (La/Sm) N ratios, and high Sr/P and Ca/P of separated CFA fractions that all negate post-depositional weathering. More likely, the high P enrichment of some rocks (P 2 O 5 content reaches 34%) was produced by sedimentary and early diagenetic processes acting in oxygenated areas of starved sedimentation on and around tectonic highs.

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