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Pivotal environmental geology research was carried out in the protected area of Cape Peloro (Messina, NE Sicily, Italy). The main aims were the ascertainment of the presence of Asbestos Cement Materials (ACMs), their mapping, and, consequently, an estimation of the potential risk for human health and marine coastal environments. The beaches surveyed covered 4500 m of coastline. Through high-resolution photographic surveys, over 520 fiber cement fragments were documented on the beaches as well as in beach deposits. The materials, after microscope, SEM-EDS, and FTIR analyses, were found to be composed of Portland cement with chrysotile and crocidolite fibers. Fragments of ACMs showed typical corrugated forms with centimeter-to-decimeter sizes and prevailing well-rounded, platy, and sub-elongate shapes. In a few localities, some fragments were found to be angular or friable. Furthermore, some fragments found on the beach were covered by conspicuous encrustations of marine organisms, testifying to their long staying in shallow-water marine environments. Illicit landfills and abandoned materials were identified in natural sections on the coastal plain. Most of the rounded ACMs were characterized by their surface texture, with mm-size asbestos fibers exposed on the surface due to significant weathering and abrasion. Notably, new fragments appeared after storms. Significant criticisms have been made related to the ACMs, analogously to what was reported for other Italian marine beaches. Possible intervention and reclamation activities cannot limit themselves to removing the fragments on the beach, as fragments are immersed in the coastal sediments at different depths and are also found in the marine deposits. Here, it is underlined that any asbestos removal and reclamation activities, if not designed and based on a multidisciplinary approach and knowledge of local coastal dynamics and the meteo-marine climate, will be very expensive and ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt) in Central America, also known as Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN), is of particular concern in agricultural populations. The member states of the Central American Integration System (SICA) determined in 2013 that there was an imperative need to address the situation in a comprehensive manner and defined policies for the intervention of the disease. A situation that currently worries health authorities is that cases are on the rise—without distinguishing or implementing effective actions to achieve a decrease in disease prevalence. The incidence of heat and strenuous activities on renal health is undeniable; however, labeling these variables as the only responsible causes for MeN has not catalyzed the implementation of health measures to lead to a preventive approach to solve the epidemic or to achieve a decrease in the number of new cases. This review addresses the role nephrotoxic metals present in the environment, mainly in soils and water, may have as part of a scenario of exposure to environmental toxins in which environmental, occupational, geographic and population variables interact. An integral approach was used to encompass the multicausality that is attributed to MeN and based on the multidisciplinary concept of the re-emerging discipline called medical geology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of analyzing uranium content in man-made carbonates (scale crusts) on the territory of Ufa based on examination of 42 samples. The median uranium content in the investigated samples stands at 1.44 mg/kg, which is significantly lower than the background values (scales from the Lake Baikal water, a clarke of sedimentary carbonate rocks) and data on other settlements of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Low values of uranium content are probably associated with the effects of the three leading factors, i.e. specific subsurface geology of the territory (gypsum, limestone); types of water supply; water treatment processes for the centralized type of water supply. Spatial distribution of uranium in man-made carbonates is characterized with uniformity, which is disturbed in two cases, i.e. a change of the water supply type (from centralized to individual); and material of the vessels used for boiling the water. No significant differences were detected when comparing samples of man-made carbonates associated with different sources of water supply (the bucket and infiltration types of water intake) and the types of household filters.

In America, Dr. Thomas Antisell (1817–1893) is best known for his work as a geologist with the Pacific Railroad Survey under Lt. Parke. Prior to his participation with the survey, his background was in medicine, chemistry and geology, with accomplishments in all three areas, notably writing on the geology and soils of his native Ireland. As a political outcast, his arrival in America in 1854 found him teaching chemistry and practicing medicine, until his relationship with fellow Irish botanist and physician John Torrey landed him a position as geologist with that part of the survey exploring portions of southern California, notably the Coastal Range, and southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico. Although his involvement with the survey would be his last large-scale federally-sponsored geological endeavor, he would continue to pursue interests in applied geology, among his other varied interests in medicine and chemistry. These interests would include federal positions as Chemical Examiner with the United States Patent Office, Capital Chemist with the United States Department of Agriculture, surgeon during the Civil War, consultant as a Foreign Advisor in Japan, and Professor at Georgetown University, among other schools of medicine. Although many early American geologists received their academic education at medical schools, and were physicians that made career moves to geology and remained professional geologists throughout their career, Antisell was primarily a physician, with varied interests in applied chemistry and applied geology as evident from his writings. Thus, Antisell is one of America's early Medical Geologists; a term that would not become familiar and commonplace to the geological community until the 1990s. Moreover, as with other geologists of his time, he got some things right, and others not so, but his work set a geological foundation in new regions of the country, and raised questions that would eventually be addressed more fully by later investigators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around ~150 million people in 70 different countries have been consuming water with arsenic levels higher than the recommended limit of 10 μg/L. Here we describe the concentrations of inorganic arsenic in drinking water in homes of pregnant women living in the province of Tacna, near the southern border of Peru. 161 pregnant women were enrolled in their second trimester of pregnancy. A total of 100mL drinking water was collected in each household from the source of most common use. Inorganic arsenic was categorized into 3 levels with a commercial kit. Thirty percent of women had drinking water ≤10 μg/L (the WHO recommended level), 35% had 25 μg/L, and 35% had greater than 50 μg/L. Low arsenic levels were found in the southernmost homes, supplied by groundwater, while high levels were found in the northern and metropolitan homes supplied by river water.

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Chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt) in Central America, also known as Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN), is of particular concern in agricultural populations. The member states of the Central American Integration System (SICA) determined in 2013 that there was an imperative need to address the situation in a comprehensive manner and defined policies for the intervention of the disease. A situation that currently worries health authorities is that cases are on the rise—without distinguishing or implementing effective actions to achieve a decrease in disease prevalence. The incidence of heat and strenuous activities on renal health is undeniable; however, labeling these variables as the only responsible causes for MeN has not catalyzed the implementation of health measures to lead to a preventive approach to solve the epidemic or to achieve a decrease in the number of new cases. This review addresses the role nephrotoxic metals present in the environment, mainly in soils and water, may have as part of a scenario of exposure to environmental toxins in which environmental, occupational, geographic and population variables interact. An integral approach was used to encompass the multicausality that is attributed to MeN and based on the multidisciplinary concept of the re-emerging discipline called medical geology.

Background: We assessed the association of groundwater chemicals with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Methods: Blood pressure data for ≥35-year-olds were from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey in 2011. Groundwater chemicals in 3534 well water samples from Bangladesh were measured by the British Geological Survey (BGS) in 1998-1999. Participants who reported groundwater as their primary source of drinking water were assigned chemical measures from the nearest BGS well. Survey-adjusted linear regression methods were used to assess the association of each groundwater chemical with the log-transformed blood pressure of the participants. Models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, geographical region, household wealth, rural or urban residence, and educational attainment, and further adjusted for all other groundwater chemicals. Results: One standard deviation (SD) increase in groundwater magnesium was associated with a 0.992 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.986, 0.998) geometric mean ratio (GMR) of SBP and a 0.991 (95% CI: 0.985, 0.996) GMR of DBP when adjusted for covariates except groundwater chemicals. When additionally adjusted for groundwater chemicals, one SD increase in groundwater magnesium was associated with a 0.984 (95% CI: 0.972, 0.997) GMR of SBP and a 0.990 (95% CI: 0.979, 1.000) GMR of DBP. However, associations were attenuated following Bonferroni-correction for multiple chemical comparisons in the full-adjusted model. Groundwater concentrations of calcium, potassium, silicon, sulfate, barium, zinc, manganese, and iron were not associated with SBP or DBP in the full-adjusted models. Conclusions: Groundwater magnesium had a weak association with lower SBP and DBP of the participants.

The contamination with arsenic in Santana led to the perception that the brownish waters of the Amazon River carry arsenic, at a rate higher than 235,000 tonnes per year, and it seems important that this arsenic should be studied in detail. The anomaly was caused by the discharge of tailings of a pellet plant in an excavated sump. These tailings were composed of iron- and arsenic-rich minerals, crystallized at above 900°C in the metallurgical process, which become unstable when submersed in fresh water at pH 5.0-6.0. In the sump, iron, arsenic, manganese, and other metals were slowly solubilized from the minerals, entering the groundwater. When iron got in contact with the water organic compounds, it formed a gel, absorbing As, Mn, and other metals, as it normally happens during weathering in the Amazon. The sump has been built in practically impermeable clayey soil, which made the gel move slowly, giving time to form hard concretions of limonite, characteristic of the Amazonian soil. Iron, manganese, arsenic and other metals were retained in the concretions, and the arsenic-bearing iron gels went for a maximum of some hundreds of meters away from the sump. Soon after the identification of the contamination, the water of the sump was, under close control, discharged into the Amazon River, and the tailings were removed to high ground. In sequence, as it was impossible to properly isolate the tailings, they were sold and shipped away. In the meantime, there were complaints that persons have been affected by arsenic-contaminated water that flowed from a broken dam (that never existed) into a small creek that crossed a community, and that people that consumed the water had cancer. A large medical team was called by the local government, thousands of persons were examined, diseases were found, and none related to arsenic. Analysis of blood and hair presented arsenic in limits worldwide accepted as normal. As samples of the Amazon showed a conspicuous presence of arsenic, they led to the study of the river waters for arsenic. Information is presented to correct misunderstandings present in the literature. Two important points are commented on to understand the event. One is the geological affinity of arsenic with iron. The other is that the toxicity of a solid is determined by how much of the toxic element is liberated for contamination; the standards used for the proper definition of toxicity of a solid are presented.

The establishment of quality requirements of clay-based products, for medicinal, wellness, and aesthetic purposes, is mainly sustained by the good interactions between the clay-based formulation and the skin. The release of ionizable elements and their availability to percutaneous absorption should be, ideally, physiologically effective during passive percutaneous absorption. Clay-based products are promoted in the European market as therapeutic clays or aesthetics, which is labeling that combines characteristics of medicinal products along with cosmetics. Different countries regulate these products under different legal frameworks. This study focuses on the mineralogical, chemical, and technological characterization of some clay-based products available on the market, designed for topical use, framed in the peloids concept, and claimed as natural products. The main goals are to contribute to the establishment of clay-based products quality criteria as reliable scientific information, aiming for the compliance of intended use, the information for the potential health hazards and toxicological effects of clay-based products, and the distinction in what concerns therapeutic compliance and aesthetic or wellbeing product certification. There were 13 clayed products for cosmetic purposes, available online and in commercial stores, together with three thermal peloids, that were studied. Mineralogical composition of the 16 studied samples reveals a polymineralic association with the presence of variable quantities of quartz, calcite, and feldspars, whereas clay minerals are not predominant and characterized by the presence of clay-based fraction content, composed mainly by illite, smectite, and kaolinite in variable amounts and with several mineral associations. The clay-based products contain median values of 17 ppm As, 315 ppm Ba, 79 ppm Cr, 11 ppm Co, 29 ppm Pb, 26 ppm Ni, and 62 ppm Zn. One sample presented 4.1 ppm of Cd. The studied samples have safety concerns about specific limits of As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Co, Pb, Ni, and Zn which are above the regulated avoidable limits. Samples' pH is out of range of skin's natural pH as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the trace element status of residents living in areas with naturally sulphide-rich bedrock and soil in two municipalities in Finland, Sotkamo and Kaavi. Altogether, 225 people from these sparsely populated regions participated voluntarily by providing hair and blood samples. The concentrations of calcium, zinc and copper in serum as well as selenium and cadmium in whole blood did not show correlation with those concentrations in hair samples. Calcium concentration in serum was slightly lower in the sulphide-rich areas (median value 91.4 mg/l, n = 103) than in the areas with adjacent sulphur-poor bedrock (median value 93.6 mg/l, n = 82). The concentrations of Ni and Mn in hair correlated with those in drinking water. The highest Mn and Ni concentrations in the water samples from private wells were 1620 µg/l and 51 µg/l and the highest concentrations in human hair samples 36.44 mg/kg and 12.3 mg/kg, respectively. The challenge with elevated trace element concentrations in some well waters is well documented. In northern countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway and Canada), only 10% of the population depend on private well water, and 90% have access to monitored municipal water supplies. Compared with data available from sulphide mine sites globally, the nickel and manganese concentrations in human hair samples were high in our sulphide-rich study area at Sotkamo representing the trace element status of residents under natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The close association between the geographic distribution of certain diseases and environmental factors is clearly apparent in the tropical terrain of Sri Lanka. Among these diseases, dental and skeletal fluorosis and Chronic Kidney Disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) are common problems in the dry zone regions of the country. The quality of drinking water is primarily blamed for the emergence of such diseases. Since 2015, about 1250 groundwater samples from the dry zone region of Sri Lanka were collected and analyzed for their water quality parameters. Excessive ionic concentrations were observed in groundwater in which solute composition is dominated by Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3 ˉ, Clˉ, and SO4 2ˉ. The results revealed that the dry zone was highly affected by excessive levels of fluoride and divalent cations. Fluoride content in the study samples varied up to 6.8 mg/L. About 35% and 73% of samples from metamorphic and sedimentary terrains, respectively, were identified as very hard and not palatable. Higher As content is a significant feature in groundwater from the sedimentary terrain in the north and northwest of the island. Excessive nitrate was also noted in highly permeable sandy aquifers in the coastal belt. Results of available water quality data confirm that the groundwater quality of the dry zone is affected by both geogenic and anthropogenic factors, while certain geographically distributed health issues are closely associated with the groundwater geochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelotherapy and electrotherapy are therapeutic methodologies with proven success in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) and dermatology fields. The main purpose of these therapeutic modalities is to reduce pain, accelerate wound healing, alleviate muscle spasms, and improve mobility, and muscle tone. Their main challenge is in the passage of some ionic species through the skin barrier. The use of drugs, such as diclofenac, corticosteroids or steroids, has gained widespread efficacy recognition in physical therapy and the therapeutic action of these drugs is widely studied in experimental and clinical trials. Unlike pharmaceutical and cosmetic clays, peloids are not subject to any prior quality control or subject to any specific European regulation. The dermal absorption values are an integral part of the risk assessment process for peloids. This work explores the converging points between these two transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) and the presentation of methodologies to achieve peloid safety compliance, especially concerning the potential and degree of toxicity arising from ion exchange and trace elements. TDDS is applied to the pharmaceuticals industry and drug is the generic term for the active substances released into skin tissues. The transdermal delivery of drugs or clay components with therapeutic properties is limited due to the excellent barrier function of the stratum corneum. The transdermal drug delivery of pelotherapy is enhanced by temperature and electrically by iontophoresis. The low voltage of iontophoresis and sweat phenomena with pore dilation driven by pelotherapy allows the use of the same pathways: hair follicles and sweat pore. The therapeutic integration of iontophoresis and pelotherapy focused on patient benefits and low safety-related risk may contribute to the outstanding physiological performance of pelotherapy, specifically, in the way the essential elements and exchange cations pass through the skin barrier. The validation of an innovative iontophoretic systems applied to pelotherapy can also promote future challenges in the obtaining of the ideal therapeutic control of peloids and the clinical validation of results with physiological efficacy recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of quality requirements of clay-based products, for medicinal, wellness, and aesthetic purposes, is mainly sustained by the good interactions between the clay-based formulation and the skin. The release of ionizable elements and their availability to percutaneous absorption should be, ideally, physiologically effective during passive percutaneous absorption. Clay-based products are promoted in the European market as therapeutic clays or aesthetics, which is labeling that combines characteristics of medicinal products along with cosmetics. Different countries regulate these products under different legal frameworks. This study focuses on the mineralogical, chemical, and technological characterization of some clay-based products available on the market, designed for topical use, framed in the peloids concept, and claimed as natural products. The main goals are to contribute to the establishment of clay-based products quality criteria as reliable scientific information, aiming for the compliance of intended use, the information for the potential health hazards and toxicological effects of clay-based products, and the distinction in what concerns therapeutic compliance and aesthetic or wellbeing product certification. There were 13 clayed products for cosmetic purposes, available online and in commercial stores, together with three thermal peloids, that were studied. Mineralogical composition of the 16 studied samples reveals a polymineralic association with the presence of variable quantities of quartz, calcite, and feldspars, whereas clay minerals are not predominant and characterized by the presence of clay-based fraction content, composed mainly by illite, smectite, and kaolinite in variable amounts and with several mineral associations. The clay-based products contain median values of 17 ppm As, 315 ppm Ba, 79 ppm Cr, 11 ppm Co, 29 ppm Pb, 26 ppm Ni, and 62 ppm Zn. One sample presented 4.1 ppm of Cd. The studied samples have safety concerns about specific limits of As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Co, Pb, Ni, and Zn which are above the regulated avoidable limits. Samples’ pH is out of range of skin’s natural pH as well.

Erionite is a naturally‐occurring fibrous zeolite mineral present in some rocks and soils. It is usually found in volcanic ash altered by weathering and groundwater, and recrystallised as zeolite. It is an "asbestiform" because it forms mineral fibres, and like asbestos, if inhaled, can lead to diseases like malignant mesothelioma (MM). Nevertheless, erionite is generally acknowledged as being more carcinogenic than asbestos minerals. Aotearoa/New Zealand has one of the highest MM rates in the western world. We describe preliminary results from erionite in Auckland, provide observations about asbestiform fibres and disease in the Aotearoa‐Pacific Island region, and briefly outline avenues for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of natural and modified environment on human health is a subject within the scope of medical geology. Ameka and its environs in southeastern Nigeria is known for intensive mining and agricultural activities that frequently predispose water resources to pollution by environmentally sensitive elements (ESEs). The present study analyzed the groundwater quality and associated probabilistic human health risks due to ESEs in Ameka area, using multiple indices and a novel health risk assessment framework, HHRISK. Entropy-weighted water quality index and other geochemical evaluation indices (including pollution index, enrichment factor, index of geoaccumulation, pollution index of groundwater, and quantification of contamination) revealed that all the groundwater samples from hand-dug wells and boreholes were extremely polluted and hence unsuitable for drinking. The HHRISK model was utilized for ingestion and dermal exposure routes assessments. Results showed that all the samples pose very high carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks. With respect to aggregated non-carcinogenic HHRISK, the order of health threat impact of the ESEs for children and adult populations is predicted as Cd > As > Se > Co > Ni > Pb > Mn > Zn > Cu > Fe. However, aggregated cancer risk for both populations followed the trend Ni > Cd > As > Pb. Furthermore, cumulative non-carcinogenic risk (HRQcum) and carcinogenic risk (CRcum) scores (for children and adults) exceeded standard limits in all the samples. However, the scores obtained for the adults were generally lower, implying that the children population is more vulnerable to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Thus, there is urgent need to adopt environmentally-friendly pollution mitigation measures in the Ameka area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the geo-environmental impacts of ongoing rock-cutting activities on the environment and the health of the residents in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia. The total quantity of rock-cuttings from one site was estimated using satellite data, a special algorithm, and mathematical models as 280,000 m3, which represents a large amount of rock debris from one excavation site. These debris were ultimately dumped into arid valleys. Rock-cutting processes also release a high percentage of silica dust particles (crystalline silica) and, in some cases, radon and some radioactive elements that cause alarming air pollution. Air pollutants percentage (PM2.5) reached 624 ppm and noise levels were estimated as 81 dB, which is above the acceptable limits. The total radiation intensity in the rock-cutting process areas showed normal levels, in the range of 34 milli-Roentgen/h. Conversely, inhaled dust in Mina area ranged between 35 and 190 μg/m3. The results showed also that the silica concentrations in Mina area ranged between 0.8 and 14 μg/m3, with an average concentration of 7.8 μg/m3. Medical geological and geo-biological simulations of the air pollutant hazards on human enzymes showed a notable 3B75 co-crystal form, which was characterized as glycated human hemoglobin. The ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys at the rock-cutting sites showed cracks and joints in the subterranean layering near the excavated areas, which were most likely caused by rock-cutting processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olle Selinus (1943.6.27–2023.11.18) was born in Cardiff, Wales in Great Britain. He studied at Uppsala University where he received his PhD in minerology-petrology in 1971. Then Olle Selinus started his position as a geochemist and State Geologist at Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), where he continued working for 39 years until his retirement in 2010. The most significant contribution of Olle Selinus to the international scientific community was the development of the scientific discipline "Medical Geology" which was first adopted in 1997 and the establishment of International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) in 2006. Another significant contribution was the establishment of the International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry (ISEG) conference series started from 1985. • The scientific discipline "Medical Geology" was first adopted in 1997. • International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) was established in 2006. • First International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry (ISEG) was held in 1985. • Olle Selinus was one of the main founders of IMGA and ISEG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the research is caused by the need to explain the high morbidity in the areas of radioactive rocks and soils. The study was carried out in the framework of a new scientific field – Medical Geology. The main aim is to define the volume of radon emission in the area of high-radioactive granite outcrops and evaluate their radiological hazard and medical-biological consequences. Objects: geochemical and mineralogical composition of granite, weathering crusts and soils, the volume of radon emission and incidence in various regions of the world (Zhuhai city in Guangdong Province, China; the town of Échassières in Auvergne region, France; the town of Belokurikha in Altai Krai, Russia; and urban-type settlement Kolyvan, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia). Methods: a wide range of methods including instrumental neutron activation, x-ray phase analysis, gamma spectrometry, fragmentation radiography, electron microscopy, express measurement of radon volume activity, calculation of radon density flux, equivalent effective dose and the frequency of newly detected diseases (incident) were used in the research. Results. The current article provides the summarized data on the effects of ionizing radiation on the human body. According to the results of geochemical, mineralogical, radioecological and medical-statistical studies the authors have revealed that the radionuclides are released from the structural lattices of accessory minerals and sobbed on clay minerals at soil formation. This process contributes to the increase of radon emission and background radiation. The high activity of radon (Rn) and the elevated concentrations of radioactive elements in the underlying rocks and soils lead to the increase in disease rates including some types of cancer, anemias, and congenital defects. The territories of «risk» in the incidence of lung cancer include Belokurikha in the Altai Krai and Kolyvan in the Novosibirsk Oblast; nasopharyngeal cancer – Guangdong province; hematopoietic tissue cancer – Kolyvan; anemia – Guangdong; congenital malformations – Kolyvan.

The State of Paraná was the first Brazilian state to perform systematic geochemical surveys on a regional scale, complemented by some more detailed ones, focusing the town of Umuarama and its capital Curitiba as well. In these surveys, stream water samples were collected, together with stream sediments and soil samples, multielementar analytical techniques have been applied with total and/or partial digestion. The results obtained allowed the elaboration of geochemical maps to visualize the distribution of the elements in the territory of Paraná, to establish associations of groups of elements characteristic of the natural environment and the changes imposed by the action of man as well. The multipurpose applications of this geochemical mapping program contribute to geology knowledge, mineral exploration, environmental diagnostics and identification of areas of risk to human health.

Increasing evidence has emerged that Mn derived from drinking water could be a health risk, especially for children. This study aimed to provide more information on the variation in Mn concentrations in well water and factors that affect manganese concentrations in groundwater in the natural environment. The geochemical data consisted of analyses of single water samples (n = 5311) that were taken only once and data from monitoring sites where water samples (n = 4607) were repeatedly taken and analyzed annually from the same wells. In addition, the well-specific results from six wells at monitoring sites were described in detail. We obtained the data on water samples from the groundwater database of Geological Survey of Finland. In single samples, Mn concentrations varied from < 0.02 µg/l to 5800 µg/l in bedrock well waters and up to 6560 µg/l in Quaternary deposit well waters. Results from single water samples from bedrock wells and Quaternary deposit wells indicated that the dissolved oxygen content has an inverse association with the Mn concentration. When the dissolved oxygen O2 levels were lower, the Mn concentrations were higher. No clear association was found between the Mn concentration and the pH or depth of the well for single samples. Part of Mn was particle bound, because total Mn was higher than soluble Mn in most measured samples. In the monitoring survey, large variation in Mn concentrations was found in bedrock well water in Kemijärvi, 114–352 µg/l, and in dug well water in Hämeenkoski, 8.77–2640 µg/l. Seasonal and spatial variability in Mn concentrations in water samples from two bedrock wells was large at monitoring sites in northern Finland. Variability in the Mn concentrations in groundwater can be large, even in the same area. These data suggest that single measurements of the Mn concentration from a water source may not reveal the Mn status, and measurement of both the total and soluble Mn concentrations may be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While conducting the National Program of Environmental Geochemistry and Medical Geology in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia, the research team Geological Survey of Brazil – CPRM detected a large area with high levels of fluorine in the geochemical results of the soil, stream sediment and surface water. Fluorine levels were detected by an ion-selective electrode (stream sediment and soil samples) or by ion chromatography (water samples). In this low-density survey, the minimum, maximum and median fluorine grades found at the water samples were 0.005 mg/L, 7.56 mg/L and 0.05 mg/L. For the soil, the samples were 15 mg/L, 1720 mg/L and 152 mg/L, and for the stream sediment, the samples were 35 mg/L, 1076 mg/L and 262 mg/L. The region covers 25 municipalities where studies by researchers from Federal Universities of Minas Gerais and Bahia have detected a high incidence of dental fluorosis, especially where public supply is made via deep wells in the Fissure-Karst Aquifer of the Bambuí Group. Moreover, the study area is highly favorable to the mineral deposit of fluorite and secondary Pb-Zn. Because the area is much larger (99,000 km2) than the other known fluorite provinces of Brazil (Santa Catarina is 2,000 km2 and Vale do Ribeira is 5,000 km2), the designation of Geochemical Megaprovince of Fluorine in the Middle São Francisco River, Brazil, is suggested for this region.

Pelotherapy and electrotherapy are therapeutic methodologies with proven success in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) and dermatology fields. The main purpose of these therapeutic modalities is to reduce pain, accelerate wound healing, alleviate muscle spasms, and improve mobility, and muscle tone. Their main challenge is in the passage of some ionic species through the skin barrier. The use of drugs, such as diclofenac, corticosteroids or steroids, has gained widespread efficacy recognition in physical therapy and the therapeutic action of these drugs is widely studied in experimental and clinical trials. Unlike pharmaceutical and cosmetic clays, peloids are not subject to any prior quality control or subject to any specific European regulation. The dermal absorption values are an integral part of the risk assessment process for peloids. This work explores the converging points between these two transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) and the presentation of methodologies to achieve peloid safety compliance, especially concerning the potential and degree of toxicity arising from ion exchange and trace elements. TDDS is applied to the pharmaceuticals industry and drug is the generic term for the active substances released into skin tissues. The transdermal delivery of drugs or clay components with therapeutic properties is limited due to the excellent barrier function of the stratum corneum. The transdermal drug delivery of pelotherapy is enhanced by temperature and electrically by iontophoresis. The low voltage of iontophoresis and sweat phenomena with pore dilation driven by pelotherapy allows the use of the same pathways: hair follicles and sweat pore. The therapeutic integration of iontophoresis and pelotherapy focused on patient benefits and low safety-related risk may contribute to the outstanding physiological performance of pelotherapy, specifically, in the way the essential elements and exchange cations pass through the skin barrier. The validation of an innovative iontophoretic systems applied to pelotherapy can also promote future challenges in the obtaining of the ideal therapeutic control of peloids and the clinical validation of results with physiological efficacy recognition.

The Indus‐Yarlung suture of southernmost Tibet marks the initial collisional zone, the ongoing India‐Asia collision, and yet more than ~30 million years after the onset of collision, a thick detrital sedimentary unit was deposited just north of the suture: the Kailas Formation. The mechanism permitting subsidence of the deep intracontinental Kailas basin in a compressional tectonic regime remains uncertain. We present new apatite (16–11 Ma) and zircon (24–19 Ma) fission track (AFT and ZFT) ages from the Gangdese batholith just north of the Kailas basin. ZFT analysis of modern‐river sand from the northern Gangdese magmatic arc indicates an exhumation at 27.3 ± 1.3 Ma. Thermal modeling indicates that the batholith experienced reheating between 28 and 20 Ma, coeval with deposition in the Kailas basin (between 26 and 21 Ma), followed by overall rapid cooling between 20 and 17 Ma. We interpret this thermal history as a phase of regional Oligocene‐Miocene sedimentary burial followed by exhumation. By modeling mantle dynamics in the geodynamic framework of the India‐Asia collision, we show that transient dynamic topography over the relative southward folding of the Indian slab is consistent with burial and exhumation of the Gangdese magmatic arc during Oligocene‐Miocene time. The northward migration of the Indian continent relative to its own stati onary slab created a wave of dynamic topography that caused subsidence in the overriding plate north of the Himalaya, followed by a phase of surface uplift since ~27 Ma of the northern Gangdese magmatic arc. During latest Oligocene‐early Miocene time, the dynamic deflection center was in the Kailas area, and it progressively relocated southward to its present position at the Ganges basin. Key Points: Gangdese batholith experienced reheating between ~28 and 20 Ma, followed by rapid cooling between 20–17 Ma at a rate of ~50 °C/MyrThe northward migration of the Indian continent created a wave of dynamic topography that caused the successive subsidence and upliftThe Kailas basin is a unique occurrence of a perched basin that owes its existence to dynamic deflection within a mountain belt [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban dust contamination is becoming progressively noticeable, and heavy metals are primary pollutants in urban environments. The contamination of heavy metals in urban dust has been affecting the urban citizens due to their adverse effects on human health, and understanding their effects is a crucial stage for its management. This study is a review of the reports of heavy metal pollution in urban dust of 16 cities in Iran, aimed at determining pollution status and health risk calculation on the nationwide scale, using geo-accumulation index (Igeo), potential ecological risk index (PER), and health risk assessment model. Six toxic elements, namely cadmium, copper, chromium, nickel, lead, and zinc were evaluated in this study. The results presented that the total heavy metal concentrations in the studied cities decreased in the sequences of Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cd. The average concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the studied cities exceeded the Iran Standard Soil limits for residential areas. The mean levels of studied heavy metals for cities was in the order of Kermanshah > Tehran > Tabriz > Rafsanjan > Hamedan > Isfahan > Mashhad > Ahvaz > Abadan > Kerman > Bushehr > Kashan > Shiraz > Zahedan > Masjed-e-Soleiman > Arak. The Results of Igeo revealed that the pollution levels of Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Zn in the studied cities ranged from unpolluted to moderate pollution categorizations. The mean potential ecological risk factor (Eir) values were below (Eri < 40), showing a low ecological risk level. Also, Eir values for all cities showed that Cd, Pb, and Cr had the highest ecological risks than other heavy metals. However, the total potential ecological risk index (RI) values for studied cities were 172.1, showing a moderate ecological risk level. Human health risk assessment evaluation showed that in contrast to adults, children have more possible health risks (non-carcinogenic). Among the multiple pathways of exposure, the ingestion pathway was the most important exposure for both groups of population, followed by skin exposure and then breathing exposure. Total hazard index (HI) values among three exposure routes, were less than harmless level (HI < 1), displaying that there was not a non-carcinogenic risk for both groups of population. Cancer risk (CR) study exhibited that the potential risk of cancer decreases in the order of chromium > nickel > cadmium. The CR ranks of chromium, nickel, and cadmium were less than the maximum permissible level, presented an insignificant carcinogenic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the relationship between geology and human health from antiquity to today. The doctrine that man is a reflection of the universe was widespread in antiquity. In the Renaissance, the Swiss alchemist, physician and philosopher Paracelsus proclaimed the principle: "Everything is poison, everything is medicine; both depend on the dose". Until the twentieth century, the role of microelements was identified in the development of only two diseases—hypoferric anemia and endemic goiter. The development of atomic-emission spectroscopy in the 1920s permitted the analysis of elements with exceedingly low concentrations in the environments being studied. Application of this analytical technique made it possible to measure the microelemental composition of soils, plants, animal tissues, and other matter, resulting in important scientific discoveries. Then information was collected on the vital necessity of microelements that previously had been considered as toxic to living organisms. The explanation of different diseases caused by deficiency or excess of different elements was made—'Bush disease' among New Zealand cattle by the low content of cobalt in rocks, ataxia of lambs in some regions of Western Australia caused by copper deficiency, osteomalacia in a region of Norway caused by phosphorus deficiency in rocks, 'white muscle disease'—cardiac muscle dystrophy caused by selenium deficiency, Keshan disease or endemic cardiomyopathy caused by selenium deficiency in soils and other. With the increasing interest in medico-geological research there was a need to unite scientists from different countries. In 2004 the International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) was established. Its aim is to promote awareness concerning this issue among geoscientists, medical specialists, and the public at large. Medical geology is a relatively new scientific field that studies the influence of geological factors on health. The obtained results testify to the prospects of scientific research at the junction of medicine, geology, ecology, and the expediency of further in-depth study of the biological role of geological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient information on the link between health data and geology in developing countries is a major barrier to identify sources of some emerging public health problems. A total of 2868 soil samples were collected from field sheet 0503B in Ghana to evaluate the concentrations and distributions of trace elements and their effects on human health. The samples were sieved to < 106 µm fraction and analysed for elements, As, Ba, K, Zn, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Mg and Fe by XRF technique and Au by fire assay method. The study identified disparities in averages of As, Cr, Fe and Mg, which resulted in enrichment and deficiencies when compared with the worldwide background average. The measured averages for As and Cr were 17.27 mg/kg and 89.25 mg/kg, respectively, for the entire area. Both averages exceeded the worldwide background values of 10 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg of As and Cr. The four traditional towns with varied activities recorded As concentrations ranging from 6.11 mg/kg at Samreboi, 16.29 mg/kg at Asankragwa, 17.42 mg/kg at Akropong and 25.99 mg/kg at Bogoso. Principal component analysis revealed a good association among Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Ni, Pb and Zn in Group 1, and their main source was interpreted as the underlying geology. Arsenic, Cr and Mg in Group 2 show a relatively weak correlation, and their sources were ascribed to a combination of geologic and anthropogenic sources. Gold had a good correlation with As, which was associated with the hydrothermal veins in the underlying rocks. The spatial plots generated from transformed soil data by Getis Ord Gi* treatments were visual methods to clearly identify geographically the hotspots and coldspots of elements that cause diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic concentrations exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) maximum containment level (MCL) of 10 μg/l are frequently reported in groundwater and well water in Southeast (SE) Michigan. The following research examined the relationship between arsenic exposure in well water and groundwater in SE Michigan and several adverse health effects including cancer, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, and kidney disease. The expected outcome was to prove that arsenic exposure is a problem in the area while addressing mitigation strategies and technologies needed to reduce exposure. The objective of this research was to propose effective methods and strategies to help mitigate and reduce the risk of arsenic exposure for the population in SE Michigan. Reducing arsenic concentration in well water and groundwater will help reduce adverse health effects as well as keep drinking water safe for residents in the area. Relevant data about the geology of the area and epidemiological studies of arsenic-related disease and mortality rates proved the increased incidence of diseases related to arsenic exposure in the area. The population demographic data and arsenic exposure data were analyzed. The data collected demonstrated that residents in SE Michigan are exposed to elevated arsenic concentrations in well water and groundwater that exceed the EPA MCL. The elevated levels of arsenic in well water and groundwater are due to the mobilized inorganic arsenic in the bedrock aquifers in SE Michigan. The findings from the research show that arsenic, even at low levels, is harmful to human health. Mitigation strategies discussed include legislative action, systems for removing arsenic from water, adopting improved well-drilling practices, education, using bottled water, and more. Implementing these controls would increase the health and quality of life for residents of SE Michigan.

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Objective: Mining areas and associated industrial activities carry considerable risks for human health due to multi-pathway exposure of heavy metals such as arsenic and lead. The objective of this study was to compare arsenic and lead levels in human blood and hair samples in an industrial mining area in northwestern Turkey with that of a non-exposed group demonstrating similar sociocultural characteristics. Material and Method: The population of the study consisted of 674 nonsmoker women over the age of 40 who were selected on a random basis from mine region and control area. Venous blood samples were taken and analyzed for blood lead and arsenic levels in all participants. Hair samples were later collected from 108 women with high levels in blood samples. Results: The results showed that the highest prevalence of occurrences was found in district centers whereas relatively lower values were observed in the villages. Hair arsenic and lead levels were comparably higher in the industrialized area ((fan Region) where low-quality coal combustion used in power generation and residential heating were dominant. Conclusion: Although high correlations were not found, blood and hair arsenic and lead levels in individuals living in industrial and agricultural areas were found to be high at levels influencing the human health. On the other hand, these results should be further supported and verified with advanced and long duration monitoring activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between groundwater arsenic and fasting blood glucose in the context of other groundwater chemicals, in Bangladesh. Fasting blood glucose, gender, body mass index, sociodemographic variables, and diabetes medication use were measured among adults ≥ 35 years of age (n = 6587) participating in the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2011. Groundwater chemicals in 3534 well water samples were measured in the British Geological Survey (BGS) and Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) 1998–99 survey. We assigned the nearest BGS-DPHE well's chemical exposure to each BDHS participant. We used survey-estimation linear regression methods to model natural log-transformed fasting blood glucose, among those using groundwater as their primary drinking-water source, as a function of groundwater arsenic. We considered possible interactions between categorical arsenic exposure and each of 14 other groundwater chemicals dichotomized at their medians. The chemicals considered as possible effect modifiers included: aluminum, barium, calcium, iron, potassium, lithium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, phosphorous, silicon, sulfate, strontium, and zinc. Compared to persons exposed to groundwater arsenic ≤ 10 μg/L, the adjusted geometric mean ratio (GMR) of fasting blood glucose was 1.01 (95% confidence interval: 0.98, 1.04) for individuals exposed to groundwater arsenic concentrations > 10 μg/L and ≤ 50 μg/L, and was 1.01 (0.97, 1.03) for those with > 50 μg/L arsenic. There were no Bonferroni-significant interactions with other chemicals, after accounting for the large number of chemicals tested as modifiers. In our analysis of groundwater chemistry data from 1998/99 and fasting blood glucose outcomes measured in nearby populations approximately a decade later, there was no overall association of fasting blood glucose with nearby historical groundwater arsenic. This null association was not significantly modified by the historical levels of other groundwater chemicals. These null results are inconclusive regarding shorter-term potential toxicity of arsenic for glucose regulation, if there are differences between the historical concentrations measured in nearby groundwater and the actual drinking water chemical exposures in the population during the etiologically relevant period for more acute phenotypes like fasting blood glucose. Drinking water supply-relevant, longitudinal exposure assessment with less measurement error is needed to more precisely evaluate the joint impacts of drinking water chemicals and establish if there is a sensitive time window for glycemic outcomes. • We did not detect an overall association between arsenic and fasting glucose. • Null association had no Bonferroni-significant interaction with other chemicals. • Conclusions about toxicological interactions are limited by measurement error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assortment of organic material can leach from lignite (low-rank coal) in water, and the water-soluble fraction from lignite has been associated with adverse health effects in areas of the Balkans. Recent efforts have been made to evaluate this hypothesis in other areas where lignite is in contact with groundwater like in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. In this study, five Gulf Coast lignite samples were extracted with water, and the water-soluble portion of the coal was then characterized by total organic carbon, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Additionally, human kidney cells (HK-2) were exposed to water-soluble extracts of Gulf Coast lignite to assess toxicity. Cell viability was measured, and a dose–response curve was used to generate IC50 values that ranged from 490 to 3000 ppm. The most toxic extract (Dolet Hills) was from Louisiana where lignite-derived organic material has been previously linked to high incidence of renal pelvic cancer. Concentrations of nephrotoxic metals (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Pb, V, Zn) were screened and were below those considered toxic to renal cells. We conclude that leachates from lignite do indeed have toxic affects on cultured human renal cells. Although the IC50 values are higher than the concentration of organic matter in the local groundwater, typically < 5 ppm, the effects of long-term low-level exposure is not known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eine mit dem IgNobelpreis geehrte Forschungsleistung soll erst zum Lachen und dann zum Nachdenken anregen. Dieser Grundidee folgen die diesjährigen Chemie‐Preisträger in besonders hohem Maße: Paula Romão, Adilia Alarcão und César Viana hatten beobachtet, dass Restauratoren seit Generationen die Oberflächen von Kunstwerken bevorzugt mit ihrem Speichel reinigen und wollten deren Vorgehen wissenschaftlich untermauern. Über ein solches Forschungsprojekt muss man zunächst schmunzeln. Wenn aber Speichel wirklich reinigungsaktiv ist, dann sollten wir darüber nachdenken, was chemisch dahinter steckt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status reflects host EBV activity and potentially links to EBV-associated diseases, however, factors influencing oral EBV loads or reactivation, such as environmental exposures or host factors, are not fully understood.Methods: A 2-stage, multicenter, cross-sectional study of 6558 subjects from 21 administrative cities of southern China and 3 populations from representative geographical areas in China (referred to as the south, north, and northeastern populations) was performed. The relationships between demographical factors and environmental exposures to EBV loads were analyzed by logistic regression models.Results: Current smoking, with a dose-response effect, was found to be strongly associated with higher oral EBV loads in the pooled data, with an odds ratio of 1.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.39-1.79), as well as in each of the separate populations. The odds ratio increased to 3.06 when current smokers in southern China were compared to never smokers in northern China. Additionally, higher oral EBV loads tended to be detected in older participants, male participants, and participants in southern China.Conclusions: This study provided evidence linking the effect of host-environmental factors, particularly smoking, to oral EBV activity. It could strengthen our understanding of the possible causal roles of EBV-related diseases, which may help to prevent or mitigate EBV-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibacterial clays in nature include a variety of clay mineral assemblages that are capable of killing certain human pathogens. Although clays have been used for medicinal applications historically, only in the last decade have analytical methods and instrumentation been developed that allow researchers to evaluate the antibacterial mechanisms of various clays applied medicinally. Comparisons of the mineralogical and chemical compositions of natural clays that kill bacteria have promoted a better understanding of the mineral properties that are toxic to a broad-spectrum of human pathogens, including bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics. Popular literature is filled with reports of 'healing' clays, that, when tested against pathogens in vitro and compared to controls, do not appear to have bactericidal properties. It is important, however, to differentiate what properties make a clay 'healing,' versus what makes a clay 'antibacterial.' Most antibacterial clays identified to date buffer pH conditions of a hydrated clay outside the range of conditions in which human pathogens thrive (circum-neutral pH) and require oxidation reactions to occur. It is the change in oxidation state and pH imposed by the hydrated clay, applied topically, that leads to a chemical attack of the bacteria. Healing clays, on the other hand, may not kill bacteria but have soothing effects that are palliative. This article reviews some of the historical uses of clays in medicine but focuses primarily on the common characteristics of natural antibacterial clays and early studies of their antibacterial mechanisms. In this era of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, mimicking the antibacterial mechanisms exhibited by natural clays could be advantageous in the development of new antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clay is unique especially from the perspective of medical geology, that is, the impacts of geologic materials and geologic processes on animal and human health. Clay is the only natural material that can impact human health through all routes of exposure: ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Moreover, these impacts can be harmful as well as beneficial. Ingestion of clay, a form of geophagy, has been practiced for millennia and is still widely practiced today. Humanoids have been ingesting clay for at least two million years to ease indigestion and counteract poisons. Some additional benefits may accrue from eating clays such as providing some nutrients but these benefits are far outweighed by the likely negative consequences such as tissue abrasion, intestinal blockage, anemia, exposure to pathogens and toxic trace elements, and potassium overdose. Inhalation of airborne minerals including clays has impacted the heath of millions. In the 1930s thousands of people living in the Dust Bowl in the U.S. southwest inhaled copious amounts of clay contributing to deadly 'dust pneumonia.' Using clay as a poultice to stem bleeding and cure certain skin ailments is an age-old practice that still has many adherents. A classic recent example of the antibacterial properties of clay is the use of certain clays to cure Buruli ulcer, a flesh eating disease. However, walking barefoot on clays in certain volcanic soils can result in non-filarial podoconiosis or elephantiasis. The absence of clays in soils can have serious health consequences. In South Africa, clay-poor soils yield crops lacking in essential nutrients and may be the principal cause of Msileni joint disease. Clearly, a detailed knowledge of the clays in the environment can have significant benefits to human health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biga Yarımadası genel jeolojik nitelikleri ve doğal kaynak çeşitliliği yanı sıra önemli tıb-bi jeoloji sorunları bakımından da oldukça ilginç bir bölgedir. Bölgenin muhtemel tıbbi je- olojik sorunlarının başlıcaları; doğal radyoaktivite, içme sularında metal/mineral kirliliği, asit kaya/maden drenajı, jeotermal ve diğer su kaynaklarında kalite sorunu, vb olarak sayı- labilir. Bu kadar geniş tıbbi jeolojik sorunlara sahip olan Biga Yarımadası’ndaki kritik bir bölgede asbest maruziyeti tıp ve yerbilimcilerden oluşan bir grup tarafından incelenmiştir. Araştırma Kuzeybatı Anadolu’da Biga Yarımadasının kuzeybatısında, Çanakkale ilinin Lapseki ilçesine bağlı Dumanlı köyü ve çevresinde sürdürülmüştür. Çanakkale ‹l Sağlık Müdürlüğü tarafından 2011 yılında Dumanlı köyünde 3 ve yakınındaki Çamyurt köyünde 1 adet mezotelyoma vakası tespit edilmiştir. Bunun üzerine yer bilimciler ile Göğüs Has- talıkları ve Halk Sağlığı uzmanlarından oluşan bir çalışma grubu tarafından bölgede araş- tırmalar yapılmıştır. Çalışmalar yer bilimlerinde ve sağlık bilimlerinde eş zamanlı ve para- lel olarak sürdürülmüştür. Dumanlı köyü çevresinde asbestiform mineraller ileri derecede makaslamaya uğramış (sheared) serpantinitler içerisinde yer almaktadır. Serpantinitler böl- gede yaygın mostra veren ve mikaşist, gnays, mermer litolojilerinden oluşan Çamlıca me- tamorfikleri içinde tektonik dilim ve mercekler halinde bulunmaktadır. Bu doğrultu atımlı sistem içerisindeki gerilme-makaslama alanlarında asbestiform mineral damarları geliş- miştir. Petrografik ve mineralojik tayinler bu minerallerin başlıca klinokrizotil, lizardit ve antigorit ile aktinolit olduğunu göstermiştir. Yerbilimleri çalışmalarına paralel olarak, köy- de son beş yılda gerçekleşen ölüm nedenlerinin saptanması amacıyla sözel otopsi çalışma- ları ile solunum fonksiyon testleri ve radyografik tetkikler yapılmıştır. Radyolojik patoloji ile asbest maruziyeti arasında anlamlı korelasyon saptanmış, bu olgularda maruziyet süre- sinin 23-80 yıl arasında değiştiği anlaşılmıştır.