title: High-risk mesothelioma relation to meteorological and geological condition and distance from naturally occurring asbestos.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 α 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Department of Chest Diseases, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. arahmanabakay@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abakay
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Department of Chest Diseases, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah Cetin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tanrikulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mine Engineering, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Mine Engineering, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Sefik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Imamoglu
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Department of Chest Diseases, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mahsuk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylan
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Department of Medical Oncology, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Department of Chest Diseases, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abakay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005844:Geology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos
keywords: Incidence; Mesothelioma; Naturally occurring asbestos; Risk; Wind direction