Mesothelioma and Asbestos

The Manhattan Beach City Council in California passed Resolution No. 6223 urging the state legislature to repeal the designation of serpentine as the official state rock because serpentine can contain the toxic substance asbestos. The resolution has been lauded by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) as part of its “Drop the Rock” campaign to get California to remove serpentine as its state rock.

Serpentine often contains chrysotile asbestos, a known carcinogen that can cause respiratory illnesses as well as several forms of cancer, particularly asbestosis, mesothelioma as well as lung cancer. Serpentine became the state rock of California in 1965 to promote the asbestos mining industry that was so lucrative at the time. Asbestos was used for decades in construction, naval shipyards as well as ordinary household products.

The state of California has the highest recorded number of asbestos-related deaths in the United States. The ADAO is committed to seeking a legislative ban on asbestos, as well as repealing the California state rock would be a step in the fair direction. Manhattan Beach made the earliest official request to the state legislature to “drop the rock.” Over 7,000 people in possess died from asbestos-related diseases in California since 2007.

For the filled story, go to Reuters.