High-risk mesothelioma relation to meteorological and geological condition and distance from naturally occurring asbestos

Abstract

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.

Environmental asbestos exposure and mesothelioma cases in Bari, Apulia region, southern Italy: a national interest site for land reclamation

“…It is known that the concentration of asbestos fibers in the air surrounding the emission point depends on wind direction and velocity (Laamane et al 1965 ). Abakay et al ( 2016 ) studied the risk of developing environmental mesothelioma for inhabitants near naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) source. They found that the distance of a residence from NOA and the predominant wind direction can influence the MM risk.…”

Naturally Occurring Asbestiform Minerals in Italian Western Alps and in Other Italian Sites

“…In recent years and in several countries the health investigations dealing with asbestos moved from the occupational to environmental exposure (e.g., Baumann et al, 2015;Abakay et al, 2016;Noonan, 2017). According some authors in fact the exposure to low but continuous exposure, as in the case of inhabitants of houses next to the asbestos bearing rock outcrops (i.e.…”

ERS/ESTS/EACTS/ESTRO guidelines for the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma

“…Exposure to other elongated mineral particles. Other elongated mineral particles such as erionite or fluoro-edenite may be involved in the aetiology of malignant mesothelioma (Supplementary Material, Table S4) [75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94], with potential environmental exposure in various countries, such as Turkey, USA and Mexico [95][96][97].…”