title: Environmental exposure to asbestos in eastern Turkey.
abstract: In this study, the authors investigated the prevalence of asbestos-related disorders among the inhabitants of Güzelyurt, a town in Malatya, located in eastern Turkey. The authors examined river bed, white soil, and stucco samples taken from various locales in Güzelyurt, and they confirmed the presence of tremolite and chrysotile asbestos fibers. Subjects (N = 920; 449 males and 471 females) were examined by photofluoroscopy. Eighty-five patients (9.2%) had asbestos-related radiological findings; risk increased with age. Calcified pleural plaques were seen more frequently in individuals > or = 50 yr of age, compared with younger subjects (p < 0.01). Asbestos-related disorders were prevalent in the inhabitants of Güzelyurt, the population of which is exposed environmentally to asbestos--primarily the result of the stuccoing and whitewashing of houses with soil that contains asbestos.
authors.affiliation: Inonu University, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Malatya, Turkey. hhasanoglu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: H Canan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hasanoğlu
authors.forename: Munire
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gokirmak
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baysal
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Nurhan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koksal
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D001194:Asbestos