Anatomic variations of the human falx cerebelli and its association with occipital venous sinuses.

PURPOSE: Human falx cerebelli is an important anatomical structure in regard to its relations with venous structures during infratentorial approach to reach cerebellar tumors, vascular malformations, traumatic hemorrhage and Chiari malformations. The present study aim to describe the different types of variations of the falx cerebelli, its morphological features and its association with occipital venous sinuses. METHOD: In this study 49 dura mater was obtained from the Institution of Forensic Medicine. The length, width and the depth of the falx cerebelli were measured using a digital compass. The data obtained were statistically analyzed in relation to age and gender. The relations of the falx cerebelli with the occipital sinus was documented. Histological sections from the falx cerebelli were stained with Hematoxylin Eosin to evaluate the fine structure. RESULTS: Among the 49 falx cerebelli examined 36 (73.5%) were classified as normal. The average length, width and depth of the normal falx cerebelli was 3.7, 1.0 and 0.4 cm respectively. Of the 49 falx cerebelli in 1 (2%) case it was absent, in 5 cases (10.2%) duplicate, in 5 cases (10.2%) triplicate, in 1 (2%) case quadruplets and in 1 case (2%) it was five-folded. The proximal and the distal attachments of the falx cerebelli showed 3 types of variations; both attachments triangular, the proximal attachments triangular and the distal ramified and distal attachments triangular and the proximal attachments ramified. The drainage of the occipital sinus of falx cerebelli with variations were evaluated. The increased number of falx cerebelli highly corresponded with the increased number of occipital sinus. CONCLUSIONS: The dural-venous variation in the posterior cranial fossa can be problematic in various diagnostic and operative procedures of this region. Neurosurgeons should be aware of such variations, as these could be potential sources of haemorrhage during the midline suboccipital and infratentorial approaches.

Viral Pneumonias in Forensic Autopsies: Evaluation and Classification of Histopathologic Changes With Microbiologic Correlation.

Lower respiratory infections are commonly due to viruses and are the third largest cause of death. Respiratory tract viruses have a tendency to target the specific regions in the lung and can harm the host via direct effect of the virus and the host's inflammatory response. In this study, relationships between morphologic changes in the lung and the viral agent type isolated in the lung by the polymerase chain reaction technique were investigated. This study was performed retrospectively at 113 autopsy cases in the Council of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul. Slides from the lung tissues diagnosed as interstitial pneumonia and detected viral agent in polymerase chain reaction were evaluated and reviewed under light microscope by 2 pathologists simultaneously according to predetermined bronchiolar, alveolar, and interstitial findings. Alveolar findings were detected in 108 cases (95.6%), whereas interstitial and bronchiolar findings were detected in 91 (80.5%) and 38 (33.6%) cases, respectively. Intra-alveolar edema was the most common alveolar finding. Some findings such as multinucleated syncytial cells and smudge cells can aid the search for etiologic agent. Interstitial inflammation was the most common histopathologic finding in the lung in viral infections and the most prominent clue to viral infections in the lung histopathologically without discrimination of viral agent type.

Patterns in paternal and maternal filicide: A comparative analysis of filicide cases in Turkey.

Filicide is the act of a parent killing their own offspring. Previous studies indicate that there are both commonalities and distinctions between filicides committed by mothers and fathers. The main objective of this study was to compare maternal and paternal filicide with a major focus on clinical and sociodemographic features of perpetrators, incident details, and victims. Filicide cases were examined at the bedded unit of the Expertise Department of Observation of the Council of Forensic Medicine that were referred by the Turkish Ministry of Justice. A total of 51 perpetrators and 57 victims were analyzed from June 2014 to December 2023. The perpetrators were daily face-to-face interviews by psychiatry and forensic medicine physicians. There were significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics and psychiatric conditions between maternal and paternal cases. Female perpetrators tended to be younger, unemployed, mostly targeted younger victims and used asphyxiation to kill, whereas males tended to target older victims and utilized firearms. The most common primary cause of filicide in maternal cases was "unwanted pregnancy," whereas "spousal revenge" and "anger or impulsivity" were predominant in paternal filicides. All perpetrators who were not criminally responsible were mothers, mostly diagnosed with psychotic depression. Unwanted pregnancy, psychotic depression, and postpartum psychosis should be assessed when evaluating risk for mothers, especially for infanticide. The desire for revenge on a spouse, often seen with personality disorders, impulsivity and anger, access to firearms should be screened for risk of paternal filicide, particularly in older victims. Early recognition of these factors can help in implementing prevention strategies.

Criminological and Psychiatric Profiles of Immigrant and Refugee Offenders: A Retrospective Analysis of Cases in a Forensic Setting.

This study aimed to scrutinize the characteristics of immigrant and refugee offenders within our institution, focusing on factors such as immigrant status, country of birth, duration of residence in Turkey, as well as psychiatric, socio-demographic, and criminal profiles. The data were obtained through a retrospective examination of case records referred to the Observation Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine for the assessment of criminal responsibility between 2017 and 2022. The study categorized the cases into two groups: refugees and immigrants, comprising 35 and 22 offenders, respectively. Significant differences in educational levels were identified between immigrants and refugees within our study group (p < .001). Notably, drug use disorders were more prevalent among refugees, whereas alcohol use disorders were more common among immigrants, with statistical significance (p < .005). During forensic psychiatric assessments, 57.1% of refugees and 54.5% of immigrants required interpretation services. The most prevalent offense in the refugee group was homicide (37.1%), followed by child sexual abuse (28.6%). In contrast, homicide (31.8%) and theft and extortion (22.7%) were the most common offenses for the immigrant group. Six cases (10.5%) were judged to have reduced or no criminal liability. Among the cases, 52.6% had a history of prior outpatient psychiatric referrals, with the most frequent diagnosis being atypical psychosis at 10.5%. The findings underscore the necessity for additional research and targeted interventions to address the mental health and criminological complexities confronted by this vulnerable population.

Bioinformatics-driven untargeted metabolomic profiling for clinical screening of methamphetamine abuse.

PURPOSE: Amphetamine-type stimulants are very common, and their usage is becoming a very big social problem all over the world. Thousands of addicts encounter several health problems including mental, metabolic, behavioral and neurological disorders. In addition to these, there are several reports about the elevated risk of tendency on committing criminal cases by addicted persons. Hence, methamphetamine addiction is not only an individual health problem but also a social problem. In our study, we aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of chronic usage of methamphetamine via untargeted metabolomics approach. METHODS: 38 plasma samples were carefully collected and extracted for untargeted metabolomics assay. A liquid-liquid extraction was performed to get as much metabolite as possible from the samples. After the extraction procedure, samples were transferred into vials and they were evaluated via time of flight mass spectrometry instrument. RESULTS: Significantly, altered metabolites were identified by the fold analysis and Welch's test between the groups. 42 different compounds were annotated regarding to data-dependent acquisition method. Pathway analysis were also performed to understand the hazardous effect of methamphetamine on human body. CONCLUSION: It has been reported that drug exposure may affect several metabolic pathways for amino acids, fats, energy metabolism and vitamins. An alternative bioinformatic model was also developed and validated in order to predict the chronic methamphetamine drug users in any criminal cases. This generated model passes the ROC curve analysis and permutation test and classify the controls and drug users correctly by evaluating the metabolic alterations between the groups.

Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and steatohepatitis in Türkiye: A forensic autopsy study.

Background and aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing global epidemic in Türkiye and worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of MASLD and steatohepatitis among adults who died of unnatural causes including sudden death and non-burn trauma. Method: We conducted a prospective review of all consecutive adult forensic autopsies for natural (sudden unexpected) and non-natural (Suicidal, homicidal and accidental) suspicious deaths carried out at the Istanbul Council of Forensic Medicine from February to May 2022. Four wedge biopsies were extracted from sagittal sectioned liver specimens. A liver pathologist with 20 years of experience examined each case for steatosis, ballooning, inflammation, and fibrosis. Results: Among 1797 autopsies, 62 met inclusion criteria. Overall, 43.3 % (n = 26) of autopsies showed evidence of steatotic liver disease, with a distribution of steatosis severity as: Grade I (28.3 %), Grade II (6.6 %), and Grade III (8.3 %). All these cases met at least one cardiometabolic criteria and diagnosed with MASLD. Ballooning was observed in 20.0 % of cases (5 cases grades 1 and 7 cases grade 2), and Inflammation was present in 51.7 % (9 cases with grade 0-1, 12 with 1-2, 7 with 2-3, and 3 with 5-6). Notably, 46.1 % (n = 12) of MASLD cases and 20.0 % (n = 12) of all cases were diagnosed with steatohepatitis, with three cases exhibiting delicate perisinusoidal fibrosis and one case showing portal fibrosis. Conclusion: The histopathological findings from this autopsy study confirmed the markedly high prevalence of MASLD and steatohepatitis within the general adult population, highlighting the concerning burden of steatotic liver disease in Türkiye.

Evaluation of microRNA let-7b-3p expression levels in methamphetamine abuse.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to identify a microRNA expression signature that could be used to distinguish methamphetamine from control samples. We also utilized the existing bioinformatics tools in order to predict the candidate microRNAs that could play potential key roles in regulating drug addiction-related genes. METHODS: Methamphetamine samples from 21 ventral tegmental area and 21 nucleus accumbens samples and their control regions were obtained from the Council of Forensic Medicine (Istanbul). Quantitative analysis of let-7b-3p was studied using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student's t-test. The receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0). RESULTS: Our quantitative reverse transcription PCR results revealed that let-7b-3p was significantly overexpressed in brain tissues of the methamphetamine-user group. Let-7b-3p had significant power to discriminate methamphetamine from control samples in the ventral tegmental area (AUC; 0.922) and nucleus accumbens (AUC; 0.899) regions. CONCLUSION: We have shown for the first time in the literature the differential expression of let-7b-3p in samples from methamphetamine-addicted individuals. We suggest that let-7b-3p could be a powerful marker for the diagnosis of methamphetamine addiction. Our results showed that differentially expressed let-7b-3p in methamphetamine users could be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker.

Sociodemographic, psychiatric and criminal characteristics of elderly offenders under evaluation for criminal responsibility in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine a sample (n = 150) of elderly offenders to analyse the psychiatric, medical, demographic, criminal and if available neuropsychological test characteristics and criminal responsibility. METHOD: Data were gathered through a retrospective chart review of applicants aged 65 and over who were referred for determination of criminal responsibility from 2014 to 2019 at the Observation Department of Council of Forensic Medicine (Adli Tip Kurumu Baskanligi, Gözlem Ihtisas Dairesi) who were evaluated under inpatient status by law. RESULTS: There were 150 forensic cases aged 65 and over. The majority of the crimes were homicide (25.3%), homicide attempt (10%), and sexual offence (26%). The majority of sexual offence victims were children (34 of 39 cases). The percentages of decisions on criminal liability were as follows: 76% (n = 114) had full criminal liability, 21.3% of them (n = 32) had no criminal liability, 2.7% of them (n = 4) had reduced criminal liability. For the reduced/no criminal liability group, diagnoses were as follows: 37.1% dementia syndromes, 31.4% schizophrenia, 11.5% delusional disorder and 2.8% bipolar disorder manic episode. CONCLUSION: When the findings in our study and current literature data are examined, it is seen that certain crime groups such as murder and attempted murder, and sexual crimes against children are high in elderly forensic psychiatric evaluations.

Evaluation of forensic reports issued in emergency departments and comparison with reports issued by the Council of Forensic Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Identify the deficiencies in the forensic reports prepared by the emergency physicians and to identify the frequent mistakes in these reports by comparing the forensic reports issued by the emergency physicians in the context of offences against physical integrity and the forensic reports issued by the Second Forensic Medicine Specialization Board for the same forensic cases. METHODS: Existence of the information that should be included in the standard forensic report (name, surname, address, event date, etc.) of 241 cases prepared by emergency physicians who were sent to the Forensic Medicine Second Forensic Medicine Second Specialization Board due to various reasons between February 1, 2019, and May 1, 2019, were reviewed retrospectively. Besides, whether the trauma causing the forensic event stated in these reports is life threatening or not and whether it can be eliminated with simple medical intervention or not were compared with the reports prepared by the Council of Forensic Medicine Forensic Medicine Second Specialization Board for the same events and certain mistakes were determined. RESULTS: Address, examination time, and incident date were not specified in forensic reports issued by emergency physicians with a ratio of 95.5%, 63.9%, and 75.9%, respectively. About 23.2% of forensic reports written by hand were not legible. When the reports prepared by the Council of Forensic Medicine and the emergency physicians for the same forensic events were compared in terms of the presence of life threat and treatment with simple medical intervention, it was shown that the emergency physicians were insufficient in determining the life hazard and the simple medical intervention to resolve the trauma causing the forensic event. It was found that the forensic reports issued in tertiary hospitals (education and research hospitals and university hospitals) were more accurate in determining the life hazard and treatment with simple medical intervention status of trauma which caused the forensic event when compared with forensic reports which were issued in primary and secondary line hospitals. CONCLUSION: Regardless of whether the physicians working in the emergency departments are general practitioners or emergency specialists, their sensitivity and knowledge level regarding the preparation of a forensic report was found to be insufficient. We believe that with the increase of coordinated planned multidisciplinary trainings that include emergency medicine and forensic medicine, the forensic reports that are arranged incorrectly will decrease and the awareness of physicians about the results of forensic reports will increase.

Evaluation of Patients with Post-Traumatic Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Review of 506 Cases.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the audiological, radiological, and examination findings of patients who have been treated for hearing loss (HL) due to head trauma and evaluated in terms of causality to reveal current data, and to highlight the steps to be taken. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the reports of cases that had applied for disability with HL due to head injury and had been evaluated by the Forensic Medicine Institute between January 01, 2009 and January 01, 2019. RESULTS: Of the total cases of head trauma, 52.42% were not vehicle-related, and cases were observed to be concentrated in the age range of 19-40 (55.92%; n = 283). Although otorrhagia/otorrhea was the most common finding in all types of trauma, TM perforation was the most common finding in blast-type injuries. While the rate of newly developed unilateral HL was 84.2%, 72.7% of the patients had sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) . Temporal bone fractures were detected in 59.3% of the cases, and 60.2% of them were of the longitudinal type. Facial paralysis (FP) was detected in 28.6% of the cases, and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of HL compared to those without FP. Other nerve palsy was detected in 4.9% of the cases, and N. Abducens paralysis was the most common. CONCLUSION: Accompanying intracranial nerve injury, temporal fracture, and intracranial pathologies are considerably high in patients who develop HL following head trauma. The first examination requires a multidisciplinary approach to guide future disability applications.

Does Size Matter in Laryngology? Relation Between Body Height and Laryngeal Morphometry.

OBJECTIVE: Laryngeal framework surgery has been a topic of interest since last decades. To succeed with least morbidity, the most important step is mastering the anatomy of larynx. In this study, we aim to show the relation between body height and laryngeal morphometrics that are important during laryngeal framework surgeries. DATA SOURCES: Larynges of 187 fresh cadavers were dissected within 24 hours after death at the Council of Forensic Medicine. METHODS: Age, sex, weight, height, and a total of 12 measurements were taken from each cadaver. Results were subgrouped according to gender, age of 45, body height of 165 millimeters (mm), and thyroid cartilage height of 17 mm. These subgroups were compared for each measurement and ratio. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between body height and thyroid cartilage height (hTC), thyroid cartilage width, vocal fold length, and distance from projection of anterior commissure (pAC) to inferior border of thyroid cartilage (TIB). Male gender, higher body heights, and higher thyroid cartilage heights significantly higher results were obtained. The ratio between pAC-TIB distance to hTC was found to be 0.54 in males and 0.52 in females, and this ratio was not statistically different in subgroups. CONCLUSION: Although all of the laryngeal measurements were found to be statistically significant in patients with higher body height, the ratio between pAC-TIB distance to hTC was independent. Thus, especially in patients with body heights longer than average, it should be safer to use the midpoint of the thyroid cartilage as a landmark for anterior commissure.

Endoscopic evaluation of middle ear anatomic variations in autopsy series: analyses of 204 ears.

INTRODUCTION: Microsurgery of the ear requires complete evaluation of middle ear surgical anatomy, especially the posterior tympanic cavity anatomy. Preoperative assessment of the middle ear cavity is limited by the permeability of eardrum and temporal bone density. Therefore, middle ear exploration is an extremely useful method to identify structural abnormalities and anatomical variations. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine anatomic variations of the middle ear in an autopsy series. METHODS: All evaluations were performed in the Forensic Medicine Institute Morgue Department. The cases over 18 years of age, with no temporal bone trauma and history of otologic surgery included in this study. RESULTS: One hundred and two cadavers were included in the study. The mean age was 49.08±17.76 years. Anterior wall prominence of the external auditory canal was present in 27 of all cadavers (26.4%). The tympanic membrane was normal in 192 ears (94%) while several eardrum pathologies were detected in 12 ears (6%). Agenesis of the pyramidal eminence and stapedial tendon was found in 3 ears. While the ponticulus was bony ridge-shaped in 156 of 204 ears (76.4%), it was bridge-shaped in 25 ears (12.3%). The ponticulus was absent in 23 ears (11.3%). While complete subiculum was present in 136 of all ears (66.7%), incomplete subiculum was present in 21 ears (10.3%). Subiculum was absent in 47 ears (23%). Facial dehiscence was found in 32 ears and the round window niche was covered by a pseudomembrane in 85 ears (41.6%). A fixed footplate was present in 7.4% of all ears, and no persistent stapedial artery was seen in any cases. CONCLUSION: The pseudomembrane frequency covering the round window niche was found different from reports in the literature. In addition, the frequency of the external auditory canal wall prominence has been reported for the first time.

Determining the number and distribution of intraparotid lymph nodes according to parotidectomy classification of European Salivary Gland Society: Cadaveric study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the distribution of the parotid gland's intraglandular lymph nodes using the parotidectomy zones determined by the parotidectomy classification of the European Salivary Gland Society (ESGS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 128 parotid glands were dissected from 64 fresh cadavers, by bilateral parotidectomy without additional incision within the standard autopsy procedure, and categorized. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent of the IGLNs were located in the superficial lobe and 14% in the deep lobe. An average of 7.09 ± 3.55 IGLNs were found for each of the gland; there were 6.11 ± 3.28 in the superficial lobe and 0.98 ± 1.46 in the deep lobe. While the most common lymph nodes were found in level 2 with 47.7%, only 5% of IGLNs were at level 4. According to the proposed modification, the most common lymph nodes (35.24%) were located at level 2B. CONCLUSION: Level 2B was found to contain significantly more lymph nodes than other levels, which has not been evaluated before in literature.

Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Val158Met and brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met gene polymorphisms in paraphilic sexual offenders.

BACKGROUND: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an important problem worldwide. The reason of sex abuse is considered as multifactorial. Genetic contribution reported by recent studies is a significant evidence for this pathologic behavior. Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) is an enzyme in the metabolic inactivation of catecholamine and substances containing catecholamines such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. COMT polymorphism causes functional changes in COMT enzyme activity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor usually synthesized from central nervous system neurons. With the effect of BDNF, dopamine and serotonin play important roles on neurogenesis, survival, and synaptic plasticity. AIM: This study aims to examine COMT Val158Met (rs4680) and BDNF Val66Met (rs6265) polymorphisms in CSA. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy paraphilic child sexual abuser patients and seventy age- and gender-matched healthy controls participated in this study. COMT Val158Met and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: COMT Val158Met genotype frequencies were determined as GG 31.4%, GA 45.7%, and AA 22.9% in patients; GG 24.3%, GA 45.7%, and AA 8.6% in controls; and exhibited a positive relationship between the groups (P = 0.018). BDNF Val66Met genotype frequencies were determined as GG 77.1%, GA 21.4%, and AA 1.4% in patients; GG 65.7%, GA 31.4%, AA 2.9% in controls; and no significant relationship was observed between the groups (P = 0.317). CONCLUSIONS: This research investigated COMT (Val158Met) and BDNF (Val66Met) in paraphilic child sexual offenders. A positive relationship was found for COMT gene; however, no significant relation was observed for BDNF gene between paraphilic sexual offenders and controls.

MDMA Abuse in Relation to MicroRNA Variation in Human Brain Ventral Tegmental Area and Nucleus Accumbens.

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is one of the most widespread illegal drugs, that have been used particularly by young people in the 15-34 age group. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously synthesized, non-coding, and small RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate their target genes' expression by inhibiting protein translation or degradation. miRNAs are increasingly implicated in drug-related gene expressions and functions. Notably, there are no reports of miRNA variation in the human brain in MDMA abuse. We here present a miRNA profiling study - the first such study, to the best of our knowledge - into the post-mortem human brains of a sample of people with MDMA abuse, along with non-drug dependent controls. The miRNA profiling of nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental areas (VTA) was performed by microarray analysis. Subsequently, two candidate miRNA putative biomarkers were selected according to significant regional differential expression (miR-1202 and miR-7975), using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). We showed that the expression level of miR-7975 was significantly lower in the VTA regions of the 30 MDMA users, as compared with the 30 control samples. Another significantly deregulated miR-1202 was down-regulated in the NAc regions of 30 MDMA samples in comparison to the control samples. Alteration of these miRNAs can potentially serve as novel biomarkers for MDMA abuse, and warrant further research in independent and larger samples of patients.

Quality control of iodine-131-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine.

AIM/OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND: Iodine-131-m-iodobenzylguanidine ([(131)I]mIBG) is used worldwide for the diagnosis and therapy of neuroendocrine tumors, particularly adrenal medullae tumors. After the synthesis and preparation of a radioiodinated MIBG drug formulation, quality control testing to determine its radiochemical purity (RCP) should be performed. European Pharmacopoeia 8.0 requires that the quality control include a test for RCP for the determination of [(131)I]mIBG. Previously reported procedures using reversed-phase conditions require long retention times. Our system enables the separation of [(131)I]mIBG within a few minutes. The aim of this work was to carry out RCP testing for [(131)I]mIBG without any type of sample pretreatment. METHODS: RCP testing for ([(131)I]mIBG has been carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography methods. RESULTS: A simple and rapid reversed-phase isocratic system enables the HPLC investigation of RCP testing for [(131)I]mIBG used for therapy within a few minutes. CONCLUSIONS: From the point of view of radiation protection, this method is safer, especially for therapeutic amounts of [(131)I]mIBG.

Environmental radioactivity and high incidence rates of stomach and esophagus cancer in the Van Lake region: a causal relationship?

This study examined the incidence rates of cancer cases (averages for 2006-2010) and relationships with environmental radioactivity levels. Soil and water samples were collected from provincial and district centers of Van city and the outdoor gamma doses were determined using a portable gamma scintillation detector. Gross alpha and beta, (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K activities were measured in both tap water and soil samples. Although high rates of stomach and esophagus cancers have been reported previously in Van the underlying reasons have not hitherto been defined. Incidences of cancers were highest in the Gurpinar (326.0) and Ozalp (377.1) counties (p<0.001). As to the results of the gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity measurements in the drinking water, these two counties also had high beta radionuclide levels: Gurpinar (140 mBq/dm3) and Ozalp (206 mBq/dm3). Even if within the normal range, a relation between the higher rate of the incidence of stomach and esophagus cancers with that of the higher rate of beta radionuclide activity was clear. On Spearman correlation analysis, the relation between higher beta radionuclide levels and cancer incidence was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). According to the results of the analysis, Van residents receive an average 1.86 mSv/y annual dose from outdoor gamma radiation, ingestion of radionuclides in the drinking water, and indoor 222Rn activity. Moreover, gross alpha and beta activities were found to be extremely high in all of the lakes around the city of Van, Turkey. Further investigations with long-term detailed environmental radiation measurements are needed regarding the relationship between cancer cases and environmental radioactivity in the city of Van.

Natural radioactivity in bottled mineral and thermal spring waters of Turkey.

Radiological assessment of bottled mineral waters and thermal spring waters collected from various natural sources in Turkey was carried out using gross alpha and gross beta counting techniques. For 40 samples of bottled mineral water, the mean gross alpha activity concentration was determined to be 164 mBq l(-1) (min.:7 mBq l(-1); max.: 3042 mBq l(-1)), whereas the gross beta activity concentration was found to be 555 mBq l(-1) (min.: 21 mBq l(-1); max.: 4845 mBq l(-1)). For 24 samples of thermal spring water, the mean gross alpha activity concentration was obtained to be 663 mBq l(-1) (min.: 18 mBq l(-1); max.: 3070 mBq l(-1)). The gross beta activity concentration for these samples, on the other hand, was determined to be 3314 mBq l(-1) (min.: 79 mBq l(-1); max.: 17955 mBq l(-1)). These values lead to the average annual effective doses of 313 µSv for mineral waters and 1805 µSv for thermal spa waters, which are found to be higher than those recommended for drinking waters by the World Health Organization. It should be noted, however, that one will get less dose from mineral waters since the daily consumption is much lower than 2 l that these calculations assume.