Trouble in Anatolia

In this issue of the Canadian Respiratory Journal, Gulmez et al (pages 287-290) review the presentation, management and outcome of malignant mesothelioma in central Anatolia, Turkey. There is nothing particularly new about the disease here; it presents with chest pain, dyspnea and pleural effusion,...

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Main Author: Nick R Anthonisen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2004-01-01
Series:Canadian Respiratory Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2004/545319
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author Nick R Anthonisen
author_facet Nick R Anthonisen
author_sort Nick R Anthonisen
collection DOAJ
description In this issue of the Canadian Respiratory Journal, Gulmez et al (pages 287-290) review the presentation, management and outcome of malignant mesothelioma in central Anatolia, Turkey. There is nothing particularly new about the disease here; it presents with chest pain, dyspnea and pleural effusion, is diagnosed by biopsy and has a miserable outcome whatever is done for it, just like malignant mesothelioma in Canada. Mesothelioma in Anatolia is unusual in that it is very common, with an approximately equal sex distribution, and frequently occurs in relatively young people. The reasons for this are not a mystery. Anatolia is a volcanic area; there is a lot of asbestos on or near the surface, and it is widely used as construction material, in painting, and as insulation (pages 287-290)! Asbestos related disease is due to environmental, not occupational exposure, and exposure is more intense and occurs at an earlier age than in Canada. Not only that, but some areas of Anatolia are rich in erionite, and people build homes in and on erionite-bearing rocks. Erionite is apparently something like asbestos but worse in terms of carcinogenicity (1), perhaps because its crystals have large surface areas, and areas with erionite have an even higher incidence of mesothelioma.
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spelling doaj-art-1c7d57a21a0345eca9434c20e60a70452025-02-03T01:28:10ZengWileyCanadian Respiratory Journal1198-22412004-01-0111427327410.1155/2004/545319Trouble in AnatoliaNick R AnthonisenIn this issue of the Canadian Respiratory Journal, Gulmez et al (pages 287-290) review the presentation, management and outcome of malignant mesothelioma in central Anatolia, Turkey. There is nothing particularly new about the disease here; it presents with chest pain, dyspnea and pleural effusion, is diagnosed by biopsy and has a miserable outcome whatever is done for it, just like malignant mesothelioma in Canada. Mesothelioma in Anatolia is unusual in that it is very common, with an approximately equal sex distribution, and frequently occurs in relatively young people. The reasons for this are not a mystery. Anatolia is a volcanic area; there is a lot of asbestos on or near the surface, and it is widely used as construction material, in painting, and as insulation (pages 287-290)! Asbestos related disease is due to environmental, not occupational exposure, and exposure is more intense and occurs at an earlier age than in Canada. Not only that, but some areas of Anatolia are rich in erionite, and people build homes in and on erionite-bearing rocks. Erionite is apparently something like asbestos but worse in terms of carcinogenicity (1), perhaps because its crystals have large surface areas, and areas with erionite have an even higher incidence of mesothelioma.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2004/545319
spellingShingle Nick R Anthonisen
Trouble in Anatolia
Canadian Respiratory Journal
title Trouble in Anatolia
title_full Trouble in Anatolia
title_fullStr Trouble in Anatolia
title_full_unstemmed Trouble in Anatolia
title_short Trouble in Anatolia
title_sort trouble in anatolia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2004/545319
work_keys_str_mv AT nickranthonisen troubleinanatolia