Investigation of asbestos from the perspective of health geography and environment using remote sensing and geographic information systems: Southeastern Anatolia Region

Nowadays, issues such as environmental health risks, use of natural resources and environmental pollution are becoming increasingly important for human health. As a result, the potential effects of specific minerals on the environment and human health are being carefully studied. One such mineral is asbestos. Medical authorities have established that inhalation of asbestos fibres causes calcification and thickening of the lung membrane, water retention, malignant mesothelioma (MM) and peritoneal cancer. At the same time, asbestos, a natural mineral, is being intensively studied by researchers in disciplines such as geography, geology and environmental engineering. The aim of this study is to assess the environmental impact of the mineral asbestos in the Southeast Anatolia region using environmental, geological and UA-CBS techniques based on the methods and principles of health geography, and to determine the potential health risks and make recommendations to reduce these risks. The result was a geomedical risk map of the region. In addition, the sources of asbestos emissions in the region were identified by analysing the digital geological maps compiled from MTA and literature in a GIS environment, with the help of satellite images and field studies. Chrysotile and tremolite minerals were detected in 35.29 percent and 14.70 percent of the 34 soil samples collected from the study area. In addition, four districts (Ergani, Çermik, Çüngüş, Gerger) in the study area were found to have "high risk" areas for the environment and public health. No risk areas were identified in Siverek district. Approximately 56% of the cases diagnosed with MM were located within the first kilometre of high-risk areas and 70% of the cases were located within the first four kilometres of high-risk areas. It was concluded that the methodology and approaches developed as a result of this study can be effectively used in the investigation and management of environmental risk factors, particularly asbestos exposure. It is suggested that local and central authorities working on this issue will benefit from the results of this study.