Zeolite

Zeolite and Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma and exposure to asbestos have long been linked. Since the beginning of the time of the Holy Roman Empire it has been noted that slaves working in the asbestos mine had severe lung problems and died at an early age. But in the last few decades it has become clear that there are other potential causes for the development of a rare form of cancer.

A study conducted by McDonald and McDonald in 1980 showed that about 25-33 percent of all mesothelioma cancer cases had no relationship to asbestos exposure. But in the prefix study found several other specific causes. One of them is exposure to zeolites.

What is zeolite?
Known in scientific terms as alkali hydrated aluminum silicate. Zeolites are a group of minerals that contain mostly hydrated aluminum and silicon compounds. Their common names include Clinoptilolite, Erionite, Phillipsite, and Mordenite. They are found in volcanic rock and ash and are sometimes used as additives in animal feed. Due to their porous structure, zeolites can be used as absorbents (absorbent materials), textile printing materials, detergents, and as water and air purifiers.
Zeolites have also been used in some areas of health such as supplements for hangover and auxiliary therapy for various types of cancer (the FDA does not approve of this treatment). However, there is still lack of supporting data on the effectiveness of zeolite efficacy and no conclusions as to whether zeolites are safe. As a mineral that has a systemic effect on the body, Zeolite is still unclear to date and requires more research.

The relationship of zeolites with mesothelioma

It is clear that however, exposure to zeolite dust is associated with an increased risk of development of malignant mesothelioma (malignant mesothelioma). Simply speaking, zeolites are carcinogenic when inhaled. As a matter of fact the International Agency for Research on Cancer places zeolites in the list of carcinogens class 1. This categorization is inadequate when there is sufficient evidence of the carcinogenic nature of mesothelioma in humans.
Erionite is a form of zeolite fiber that is clearly linked to the mesothelioma epidemic in the villages of the Anatolian Highlands of Turkey. In the village the local volcanic tuff is filled with toxic zeolite fibers. A report on the epidemic was published in the March 15, 2006 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Doctors in Turkey started the study for 23 years followed by 891 men and women living in three different Turkish villages of the region in Cappadocia. Residents in two villages have been exposed to erionite. The third village is used as a controlled village. During the study that began from 1979 to 2003 as many as 372 people have died. Of the deaths is known as many as 119 people suffered from mesothelioma cancer and died of the disease or complications of the disease. In two villages where people exposed to toxic minerals are known to be dead
due to pleural mesothelioma of 44.5 percent. While in the third village only 2 deaths caused by mesothelioma, and even then it is known that they both when born not from a controlled village.

Data analyzers, including Harvard professor Philippe Grandjean, MD, Ph.D., determined the effects of mesothelioma in two instances. The village full of erionite occurs 200-700 cases per 100,000 people annually. In controlled villages there are only 10 cases per 100,000 people. Therefore the conclusion is that long-term exposure of erionite is responsible for the very high incidence of asbestos cancer cases in certain villages of Cappadocia in the Anatolian Highlands.

After the study was completed, the authors suggested that local authorities concentrate on ways to prevent environmental exposures from these harmful zeolite fibers in the hope of reducing the risk of the population to mesothelioma disease.

The erionite natural deposits have been found in several western United States states, especially Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. A report on ereonite / zeolite in the US (Rom, WN, KR Casey, WT Parry, CH Mjaatvedt and F. Moatamed, 1983.) The West implications of natural fibrous zeolites for the Intermountain, noted that the area of ​​the population known as "Intermountain Barat" may be exposed to fibrous zeolites from wind and thus susceptible to the development of mesothelioma.The state of North Dakota is currently undertaking studies relating to erionite exposure in areas known to have these vast mountains.

Share this

Share on FacebookPlus on Google+