Environmental exposure to asbestos in eastern Turkey

HASANOGLU H., GOKIRMAK M., BAYSAL T., YILDIRIM Z., KOKSAL N., Onal Y.

ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, cilt.58, sa.3, ss.144-150, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 58 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2003
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3200/aeoh.58.3.144-150
  • Dergi Adı: ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.144-150
  • İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In this study, the authors investigated the prevalence of asbestos-related disorders among the inhabitants of Guzelyurt, a town in Malatya, located in eastern Turkey. The authors examined river bed, white soil, and stucco samples taken from various locales in Guzelyurt, 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 greater than or equal to 50 yr of age, compared with younger subjects (p < 0.01). Asbestos-related disorders were prevalent in the inhabitants of Guzelyurt, the population of which is exposed environmentally to asbestos-primarily the result of the stuccoing and whitewashing of houses with soil that contains asbestos.