HONOLULU, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- People exposed to erionite -- with similar properties to asbestos -- from the gravel of North Dakota roads may have higher lung cancer risk, researchers say.
Lead author Dr. Michele Carbone, director of thoracic oncology at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Honolulu, and colleagues in Italy and Turkey say more than 300 miles of road in North Dakota were paved with erionite-contaminated gravel in the past 30 years.
Erionite -- a mineral that occurs naturally and is often found in volcanic ash that has been altered by weathering and ground water -- forms brittle, wool-like fibrous masses in the hollows of rock formations. Its color varies from white to clear, and it looks like transparent, glass-like fibers, Carbone says.
People exposed to erionite are at significantly increased risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer most often associated with asbestos exposure, Carone says.
"Based on the results of our study and considering the known latency period for lung disease, there is concern for increased risk of mesothelioma for exposed residents in North Dakota," Carbone says in a statement. "Precautionary measures should be undertaken to reduce exposure of erionite that is occurring in North Dakota and may be occurring in other areas of the United States -- California, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arizona and Nevada -- where large deposits of erionite are present if disturbed."
The findings were presented at the Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology.
