Debate rages in Sacramento over asbestos containing ‘Serpentine’ as the state’s official rock

For those exposed to asbestos now suffering extreme pain and financial difficulties from asbestos related cancers and diseases, there is no glory in California’s state rock, Serpentine, which can serve as a host for chrysotile, one of the forms of asbestos.

“There is no way anyone is going to get bothered by casual exposure to that kind of rock, unless they were breaking it up with a sledgehammer year after year,” says Malcom Ross (retired) of the US Geological Survey (1995) - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/us/14rock.html

State Senator Gloria Romero, who introduced the bill to remove Serpentine as California’s official state rock, feels differently.

The state legislature bill as originally introduced states:

(a) Serpentine contains the deadly mineral chrysotile asbestos, a known carcinogen, exposure to which increases the risk of the cancer mesothelioma.

 (b) California has the highest rate of mesothelioma deaths in the nation.

(c) California should not designate a rock known to be toxic to the health of its residents as the state's official rock. 

A four year fight to remove the asbestos containing rock’s ‘special’ status

Certain geologists have mounted a vigorous defense of the rock on Twitter (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/us/14rock.html), but advocates for individuals suffering from asbestos related diseases, including Weitz & Luxenberg, have emphasized that the rock posed real dangers to those that worked with it, and has little to no commercial value to the state of California.

In an open letter dated August 27, 2007, the Pacific Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Los Angeles, California, emphasized that notably Los Angeles County led the United States in deaths from asbestosis and mesothelioma (two diseases with signature links to asbestos exposure) with 914 people in 2001 alone dying from “excruciating, terminal, asbestos-caused cancers.”

“On behalf of the Pacific Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute, and on behalf of thousands of state-employed health care providers who treat victims of asbestos disease, I implore each and every member of the California State Senate and State Assembly to take this long-overdue opportunity to end California’s endorsement of the deadly mineral, asbestos, by dropping serpentine as our state rock,” Dr. Robert Cameron, Senior Scientific Advisor.

Stalling and setbacks in the California Assembly

As of early March 2011, the bill remains stalled in the California Assembly in committee, having been referred back to committee on August 17, 2010. (http://totalcapitol.com/?bill_id=200920100SB624)

The proposed language of the current bill (revised last on August 16^th, 2010) dropped all references to asbestos as the reason for removing Serpentine as the official state rock (http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0601-0650/sb_624_bill_20100816_amended_asm_v95.html).

The vitriol against sufferers of asbestos cancers is shocking. One Facebook page set up to defend the rock triumphantly declared:

“GOOD NEWS EVERYBODY!!

The bill died in committee! LONG LIVE SERPENTINE! STATE STONE OF THE STATE WE LOVE! 

Let this facebook account exist to serve as our victory marker, telling all people who think they can try to frame an innocent rock, we will fight back! We will take a stand! 

Thanks for the rock love everyone! LONG LIVE SERPENTINE!” (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132118583490156)

A stark reminder that the suffering of asbestos disease stricken individuals is to this day under attack

Knowing and meeting so many thousands who continue to suffer from asbestos related cancers – mesothelioma cancer and lung cancer – as well as other asbestos related diseases – asbestosis – it is appalling that there are members of the scientific community who would place the glorification of a rock symbolizing what was essentially carcinogenic poison to so many over the well-being of the state’s residents.

Our firm does more than sympathize. We’re in this fight with you to defend you from those that would discount your pain and suffering, the relentlessness of asbestos diseases that do not give relief from that pain even when you lie down to sleep.

We have recovered over 3 billion dollars in settlements and verdicts. This has not been an easy fight.

If you suffer from an asbestos related illness, you need the strongest firm you can find on your side. Call us or complete the form on this page.