Erionite
Erionite is a naturally occurring mineral belonging to the zeolite group, characterized by its colorless or white crystalline structure and wool-like fibers. It is primarily found in rock deposits across several U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah, as well as in the Faroe Islands. Historically, erionite was utilized in construction materials and as a catalyst in industrial processes until its public health risks were recognized. Since the late 1980s, erionite exposure has been linked to serious health concerns, particularly mesothelioma and lung cancer, especially in areas with chronic exposure, such as certain villages in Turkey.
Erionite can become airborne, and inhalation of its fibers poses significant health risks, leading to severe lung irritations and malignant tumors. The Environmental Protection Agency banned erionite's use in the U.S. in 1991 due to its carcinogenic properties, which have been found to be more severe than those of asbestos. Continued research seeks to identify the specific types of erionite fibers that pose the highest risks for DNA mutations and cancer. In response to these findings, new treatments targeting the inflammatory effects of erionite exposure are being developed.
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Subject Terms
Erionite
ROC STATUS: Known human carcinogen since 1994
ALSO KNOWN AS: Erionit, erionita
RELATED CANCERS: Mesothelioma, lung cancer
DEFINITION: Erionite is a colorless or white crystalline solid that forms wool-like fibers and belongs to a group of minerals known as zeolites.
Exposure routes: Inhalation
Where found: Erionite is found in rock deposits in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah in the United States and in the Faroe Islands. It is found with associated minerals that include calcite, opal, pyrite, halite, and other zeolites. Before the late 1980s, a few homes were built in the western United States with blocks that contained erionite.
At risk: Workers involved in the production and mining of erionite and its related minerals, known as zeolites, are at risk for contamination. As erionite occurs naturally as a mineral in outcrops of Earth’s crust, residents or tourists in areas where it is found can be exposed to it. The general public is at risk for contamination from erionite that is contained within zeolites that are used in a variety of applications that include animal feed, pet litter, soil conditioners, catalysts, desiccants, oil and gas absorbents, pesticides, purification of water, and the cleanup of wastewater.
Etiology and symptoms of associated cancers: Through inhalation of erionite dust, erionite fibers can lodge in lung and mesothelial tissue. Due to the shape of the fibers, their surface reactivity, their ability to selectivity adsorb molecules from air and liquids, and their resistance to dissolution in fluids within the lung, erionite is extremely irritating and toxic to the lungs and mesothelium, producing malignant tumors in the lungs and the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
History: Mineral ores containing erionite have been mined commercially in the United States since the early 1960s. During the 1960s and the 1970s, it was one of four commercially important zeolites. Erionite is found in many different rock types and geological settings but is rarely found in pure form. Until the late 1980s, erionite was used as a catalyst in a hydrocarbon-cracking process. During the 1980s, erionite was linked with the development of mesothelioma and lung cancer in some villages in Turkey, where residents experienced chronic exposure to erionite. The use of erionite was banned in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1991.
In the twenty-first century, studies continued on erionite, which was discovered to be more carcinogenic than asbestos due to its ability to cause inflammation and change the structure of cells when inhaled into the body. Researchers continued to investigate the specific erionite fibers most susceptible to DNA mutations and most likely to cause cancer. In light of these studies, new anti-inflammatory drug treatments are being explored to mitigate the effects of erionite exposure.
Bibliography
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“Erionite - Cancer-Causing Substances.” National Cancer Institute, 5 Dec. 2022, www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/erionite. Accessed 16 June 2024.
“Known and Probable Human Carcinogens.” American Cancer Society, 25 Mar. 2024, www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/understanding-cancer-risk/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens.html. Accessed 16 June 2024.
Shigemasa, Sharon R. "New Study Finds Cancer-Causing Mineral in U.S. Road Gravel: Erionite in North Dakota Roads May Increase Risk of Mesothelioma." Hawaii.edu. U of Hawai'i, 25 July 2011.
Van Gosen, Bradley, et al. "Geologic Occurrences of Erionite in the United States: An Emerging National Public Health Concern for Respiratory Disease." Environmental Geochemistry & Health, vol. 35.4, 2013, pp. 419–430. Energy & Power Source.
Weissman, David, and Max Kiefer. “Erionite: An Emerging North American Hazard.” CDC Blogs, 22 Nov. 2011, blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2011/11/22/erionite. Accessed 16 June 2024.