The asbestos industry is constantly looking for ways to shift the blame to other parties for asbestos diseases like mesothelioma. The Missouri mesothelioma lawyers at The O’Brien Law Firm actively monitor developing news that potentially impacts the ability of our clients to seek security for their families after a mesothelioma diagnosis. One such news item involves a naturally occurring fibrous material called erionite, which can be found in rock and soil throughout the western United States—as recently as last November, erionite made headlines for its ability to cause mesothelioma.
Like asbestos, erionite is harmless until it is disturbed, spreading microscopic fibers into the air. But in stark contrast to asbestos, erionite was never put into wide commercial use here in the United States. In fact, it is likely that erionite was never put to any material commercial use here at all.
Although erionite exposure has been associated with mesothelioma development, it is important to note that this association exists entirely from the unfortunate experience of three villages in Turkey, where up to 50% of deaths in these villages were at one time attributable to mesothelioma. The erionite problem in Turkey was unique—the Turkish villages in question were located on huge deposits of erionite, and the villagers’ homes were actually made of erionite-infested stone and brick, resulting in massive and near constant exposure to the mineral.
Natural deposits of erionite have been located in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and other western states, but no erionite deposits have been detected in other regions, including Missouri and Illinois.
The biggest potential risk with erionite in the United States appears to be with the use of gravel in road construction—there has been some speculation that erionite-laden gravel was used in parts of North Dakota during road building, but there is no proof of any health issues associated with exposure. Most of the news about erionite is related to safety agencies cautioning to use protective measures because it MIGHT be a risk.
However, the asbestos industry is eager to find someone else to blame for new asbestos disease diagnoses in the U.S., and erionite has become a diversion tactic to shift guilt away from them. Regardless of their efforts, there is no proof that erionite has caused mesothelioma in the United States.
The mesothelioma lawyers at The O’Brien Law Firm will continue to monitor any efforts from the asbestos industry to blame the mesothelioma problem here in the United States on erionite exposure or other red herring causes.
For more information on asbestos exposure, please contact us. We’re here to help.
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