subject: California considers renaming the state rock [print this page] California considers renaming the state rock
SACRAMENTO, California - California may well possibly rename their think rock (currently the serpentine) simply because it consists of the mineral asbestos which is identified to cause hazardous well being issues to individuals exposed to it.
When serpentine was 1st named the point out rock in 1965, asbestos was generally employed in construction due to its durability and thermal properties. Nonetheless, a long time later it came to be recognized that asbestos contributes to numerous detrimental medical conditions, such as the fatal mesothelioma cancer.
Asbestos is no longer mined in the United States due to the difficulties it can result in. Since of this, California lawmakers do not consider it's proper to let the rock remain the point out icon.
Point out Senator, Gloria Romero who proposed the modify of express rock commented on the circumstance. "We know that California has the highest rates of mesothelioma deaths in the nation and we don't feel it's proper to be celebrating as the express rock anything which contains asbestos."
Not everybody shares her sentiments nonetheless. Geologists as nicely as other business affiliates are protesting the bill, saying that the rock has been a symbol of the express for years and is being unfairly stigmatized. They argue that not all serpentine rocks consist of asbestos and the ones that do, most frequently consist of chrysotile, a lesser hazardous type.
When serpentine was very first staying utilized, miners would crush the rock to release the asbestos minerals inside it. Back then, lawmakers held a diverse point of view on asbestos and named serpentine the think rock in hopes that it would expand the asbestos sector which was generating millions of dollars each and every year.
As the debate goes on, the problem more than whether one particular form of asbestos getting a lot more hazardous than one more continues. Some. Like the Environmental Safety Agency, argue that asbestos that occurs normally in the ground and which remains undisturbed will not result in any health risks. Although the World Well being Organization contends that all forms of the mineral pose difficulties for people subjected to it.
