NIOSH Raises Red Flag on Erionite Exposure
The National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) says erionite, a naturally occurring silicate mineral, could be placing North American workers at risk for serious health problems similar to those caused by asbestos exposure.
Disturbance of erionite can generate airborne fibers whose physical properties are similar to asbestos, putting people at risk for developing malignant mesothelioma—a cancer of the lining of the lung and chest cavity or lining of the abdomen.
“Until recently, erionite was not generally considered to be a potential hazard in North America, in part because relatively little risk for exposure was seen,” according to the NIOSH Science Blog. “However, evidence has slowly accumulated linking exposure to erionite with serious adverse health effects in North America, and suggesting that some workers may have a greater potential for exposure than previously thought.”
A road construction worker in Utah was the first worker diagnosed with erionite-related lung disease in 1981. NIOSH says that since the 1980s, gravel pits have been excavated in areas containing erionite deposits and when the gravel is placed on roads, there is a potential for airborne erionite fiber exposure.
There are no regulatory or consensus standards or occupational exposure limits for airborne erionite fibers, although the National Toxicology Program has designed erionite as a known human carcinogen.
NIOSH says risk-reduction recommendations to limit erionite exposures of workers who engage in activities that disturb erionite-containing gravel or soil include educating them about the potential health hazards and control methods for reducing the potential for exposure—including wet methods to reduce airborne dust generation— and providing workers with appropriate PPE.
