Natural Asbestos (UltraMafic Rock) Found to Cause Mesothelioma

It has long been known that exposure to manufactured airborne asbestos fibers can cause Mesothelioma. A recent report indicates however, that regular exposure to ultramafic rock, the natural source of asbestos, can also have devastating health consequences. While the danger of contracting asbestos through ultramafic rock are low relative to the chances of contracting the disease through workplace exposure, particularly in shipyards, the threat is nonetheless quite real. The disease currently kills some 2,500 individuals per year, a similar number as those reportedly killed by second hand smoke. Researchers from the California Cancer Registry argue that although the danger of exposure through natural causes is more remote than the possibility of contraction through a workplace environment it was still an important risk. In fact, the research showed that the liklihood of contracting mesothelioma increased remarkably with ones proximity to deposits of ultramafic rocks. Such rock deposits can be found throughout the Sierra Nevada and throughout northern and central California. Specifically, the odds of having mesothelioma fell by 6.3 percent for every 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles) farther a person lived from the nearest asbestos source. The association was strongest in men, but was also seen in women.