Natural fibrous zeolites and their carcinogenicity-a review.

More than 50 cases of pleural mesothelioma have been reported during the period 1974-1978 in a relatively small area of Turkey, centered in and around the villages of Karain and Tuzköy, in the province of Cappadocia. The area of Karain and Tuzköy is covered with volcanic tuffs, in which asbestos, glass and zeolite fibers were detected. The inhaled dusts of these fibrous materials might be the cause of the high mesothelioma rate. The most important publications on this problem are reviewed and the results of our own examinations are discussed.