California’s state rock causes a legislative stir
Many believe that the asbestos found in serpentine makes it a bad choice for a state icon
Serpentine has been California’s state rock since 1965, making California the first state to name an official rock. However, serpentine contains asbestos and some state legislators want to remove the rock’s official title. Yet geologists counter that not all serpentine contains asbestos, and there are people who want the rock to remain a California icon.
Serpentine was mined in California through the 1960’s to collect asbestos, which was later used in common building materials, such as insulation, flooring, ceilings, roofing, siding and fire coating materials. These same materials now have to be removed from buildings because asbestos is toxic and can cause such fatal diseases as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities.
Asbestos is no longer used in building materials, its disposal is highly regulated, and individuals and companies are subject to prosecution if asbestos regulations are not adhered to. Disposal is tricky because asbestos can be easily aerosolized, creating a dangerous environment for workers and nearby residents. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs that is difficult to detect and incurable.
Because it was used to collect asbestos, some might see maintaining serpentine as the state rock, as not only a denial of the dangers of asbestos, but also an insult to those who have died or are suffering from asbestos-related disease. Whether serpentine’s questionable usage is enough of a reason to lead to legislative change is still up in the air.
