Comments on: Speak up for serpentine

By: Nishanta Rajakaruna

Nishanta Rajakaruna — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:48:06 +0000

And for those serpentinophiles who celebrate this rock…..come join us to talk ‘real’ science behind serpentine at the next international conference on serpentine ecology in Portugal June 2011

Check out: http://www.ultramafic-ecology.org/

By: Nishanta Rajakaruna

Nishanta Rajakaruna — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:39:26 +0000

Now, what can we do to put a stop to this craziness? I am a botanist who studies plants which grow only on CA’s serpentine landscapes – about 13% of CA’s plants are found nowhere else in the world, only on the serpentine landscapes here in CA. My colleagues and I have written to the governor, Gloria Romero, and contributed to many blogs online but wondering what the best way is to say there is absolutely no scientific reasoning behind this push to strip serpentine off its status as state rock. Serpentine does not equal mesothelioma and I challenge those who are pushing this bill to show any evidence that anyone has developed mesothelioma from naturally-occurring serpentine landscapes here in CA! Most of my friends who have dedicated their lives to studying these landscapes (rocks, soils, plants, other critters) have lived very long lives! – many are still in their 90s!
I know that’s besides the point, but seriously, there are NO studies showing short fiber chrysotile asbestos found in low levels in serpentine landscapes here in CA can cause mesothelioma! If we are seriously concerned about public health – let’s ban sunlight which causes more cancers than anything else natural out there!
I can’t believe we are all wasting our time on an issue that should just be dropped so everyone can do what’s important to save the state!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:45:18 +0000

I should say a little more about the medical studies, because no one wants to let down their guard about asbestos. The great majority of medical studies on asbestos have not used mineralogists; they simply get a group of people who worked in "asbestos" factories or mines and follow their health histories. But the studies that have taken care to specify the exact minerals involved all find the amphibole asbestos minerals to blame. None of those minerals are produced any more, although in places like Libby, Montana, they are a dangerous byproduct of other mining. Chrysotile, the serpentine mineral that dominates California, has not been shown to be any more dangerous than ordinary rock dust or other asbestos substitutes like glass wool. This is my source.

By: PalMD

PalMD — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:25:18 +0000

Serpentine, Shelly! Serpentine!

By: Farmlady

Farmlady — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:07:28 +0000

This is so “California” and I’m so tired of this.
Makes me want to move to another state….

By: bj

bj — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:00:50 +0000

assembly-folks contacted!

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:38:28 +0000

Note to my assemblyman sent. I’m annoyed there’s no Facebook group for Serpentine that I can join!

Thanks for all the great articles; I started reading your blog with the comments about the Sulfur Mine of Leona Heights, and have enjoyed all the postings since then!

Robert