THE LUNG CANSER AND MESOTHELIOMA IN TOWNS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE TO ERIONITE IN THE CAPPADOCIAN REGION, TURKEY

Abstract

Our previous study demonstrated the presence of environmental erionite fiber exposure in The Tuzkoy town in Nevsehir located in the Cappadocian Region, Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate whether environmental erionite exposure increases the incidence of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Method: One hundred and flinty-two deaths from mesothelioma and lung cancer living in the center or in the towns of Nevsehir were retrospectively (between 1999 and 2003) analyzed. The mortality of lung cancer and mesothelioma were calculated. Results: The mortality of lung cancer and mesothelioma were 162 and 30, respectively, for the whole population of Nevsehir; while they were 2 and 14 in the Tuzkoy. The incidence was strikingly high for mesothelioma in the Tuzkoy, another town in Nevsehir where an analysis for erionite could not be performed. The mortality from mesothelioma in the Tuzkoy was 87.5% and it was approximately 50% of Nevsehir's mortality related to mesothelioma. Conclusion: The mortality of mesothelioma and lung cancer in the Tuzkoy were higher than those of the general population in Turkey, suggesting a role of environmental erionite exposure in lung cancer and mesothelioma.