Researchers at the University of Hawaii have found the presence of a mineral in gravel used for roads that can cause mesothelioma. The mineral in question is erionite, which was previously thought to only exist in Turkey.
Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer in which tumors grow on the delicate membranes of the lungs, and sometimes the heart and abdomen. It is an aggressive cancer that requires a combination of costly treatments, and many seek compensation through the expertise of a mesothelioma attorney.
Dr. Michele Carbone PhD. from The University of Hawaii Cancer Center linked the high number of mesothelioma cases in Turkey to erionite. He and researchers from the EPA and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences along with a few state universities focused a study in North Dakota, and found that road gravel contained erionite, which has mineral fibers and chemical composition similar to asbestos. There are at least twelve different states that use gravel containing erionite. Their findings were published in the July 25th edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In the laboratory, mice who inhaled erionite exhibited signs that are precursors to mesothelioma such as inflammation of the lungs and abnormal cell growth. The concentration of erionite in North Dakota roads compares to the concentrations found in Turkey. Mesothelioma takes decades to develop, and in years to come mesothelioma attorneys may find themselves helping people who are exposed to erionite.
The effects that erionite has on human health is similar asbestos, which is known to cause a number of pulmonary diseases. Mesothelioma lawyers have been representing clients who were exposed to asbestos for a number of years and have won many lawsuits on their behalf.
