Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is still a public health problem in Turkey mainly due to environmental fibrous mineral exposure (FME) (tremolite asbestos, erionite). Based on asbestos production and consumption data of USGS, Turkey had imported a total amount of 350,000 tons of asbestos between 1940-2013. Therefore we expect to diagnose occupational MPM cases especially after 2015 till 2040.
We retrospectively reviewed reachable files of MPM patients who were admitted to our clinic between 1972-2010. Baseline patient characteristics were recorded.
The study included 484 patients (M/F:310/174) with a mean age of 52.3 years (range:14-80). Right hemithorax was more commonly (56.7%) affected and epithelial histology was dominant (83.1%). The ratio of patients <40 years was 16.3%. Whereas 72% of the patients had a history FME. 74.7% of these patients had asbestos and 25.2% had erionite exposure. Patients were born mainly in 9 cities and their birth places were pointed in Map to detect Turkey's risk regions.
In conclusion, this study presented that currently MPM is mostly due to environmental FME. But in the future, we expect to diagnose higher occupational cases. Prevention of environmental FME could be obtained by educating villagers to avoid using asbestos contaminated soil for domestic usages and relocating the erionite villagers to an erionite free area. Yet some stone quarries which cause direct exposure to erionite are illegally operated in Cappadocian Region.Turkey started National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Management and Awareness, and ILO Safety and Health Construction Convention, 1988 (No:167) was powered by 5 February 2015, which is important for city reorganization process.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
