title: Environmental radioactivity and high incidence rates of stomach and esophagus cancer in the Van Lake region: a causal relationship?
abstract: This study examined the incidence rates of cancer cases (averages for 2006-2010) and relationships with environmental radioactivity levels. Soil and water samples were collected from provincial and district centers of Van city and the outdoor gamma doses were determined using a portable gamma scintillation detector. Gross alpha and beta, (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K activities were measured in both tap water and soil samples. Although high rates of stomach and esophagus cancers have been reported previously in Van the underlying reasons have not hitherto been defined. Incidences of cancers were highest in the Gurpinar (326.0) and Ozalp (377.1) counties (p<0.001). As to the results of the gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity measurements in the drinking water, these two counties also had high beta radionuclide levels: Gurpinar (140 mBq/dm3) and Ozalp (206 mBq/dm3). Even if within the normal range, a relation between the higher rate of the incidence of stomach and esophagus cancers with that of the higher rate of beta radionuclide activity was clear. On Spearman correlation analysis, the relation between higher beta radionuclide levels and cancer incidence was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). According to the results of the analysis, Van residents receive an average 1.86 mSv/y annual dose from outdoor gamma radiation, ingestion of radionuclides in the drinking water, and indoor 222Rn activity. Moreover, gross alpha and beta activities were found to be extremely high in all of the lakes around the city of Van, Turkey. Further investigations with long-term detailed environmental radiation measurements are needed regarding the relationship between cancer cases and environmental radioactivity in the city of Van.
authors: Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey E-mail : zaferakan@marmara.edu.tr.
authors: Zafer
authors: Z
authors: Akan
authors: Busranur
authors: B
authors: Baskurt
authors: Hizir
authors: H
authors: Asliyuksek
authors: Erol
authors: E
authors: Kam
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Yilmaz
authors: Mehmet Bilgehan
authors: MB
authors: Yuksel
authors: Recep
authors: R
authors: Biyik
authors: Ramazan
authors: R
authors: Esen
authors: Dogan
authors: D
authors: Koca
mesh_terms: D000512:Alpha Particles; D001417:Background Radiation; D001610:Beta Particles; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D013910:Thorium; D011886:Radon