ADAO wants California to drop serpentine as state rock
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 and several forms of cancer, particularly asbestosis, mesothelioma and 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 and common 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, and repealing the California state rock would be a step in the right direction. Manhattan Beach made the first official request to the state legislature to “drop the rock.” Over 7,000 people in have died from asbestos-related diseases in California since 2007.
For the full story, go to Reuters.
