Could gravel roads cause lung cancer? North Dakota scientists think it might...
According to the Associated Press, certain gravel roads in western North Dakota use erionite, a mineral that is mined in the Killdeer mountains. Erionite forms wool-like fribrous masses among rock formations and has properties similar to asbestos. Scientists suspect that, like asbestos, erionite collects in the lungs in those fibrous masses, a factor that could lead to lung cancer in people who have long-term exposure to it. North Dakota health officials are looking for 50 volunteers to submit to chest X-rays and CT scans in order to find out if there is a cancer risk, but so far they can't secure enough volunteers. The AP report quotes one resident as saying: "Maybe we'd rather not know we have cancer." A state representative, on the other hand, said she grew up playing in a gravel pit and thinks the risk is being overstated. Volunteers who do sign up will be paid $100 for their time.
[Source: The Associated Press via WSBTV | Photo: Pastor Rick]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pokey 8:45AM (4/15/2009)
Balderdash!!!
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Shawn 8:50AM (4/15/2009)
Attention all lawyers, begin filing lawsuits immediately! Start by suing the SD state government for every single gravel road in that state.
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ehisforadam 8:56AM (4/15/2009)
Michigan too!
Avinash machado 9:03AM (4/15/2009)
#Shawn it is North not South Dakota.
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Shawn 9:05AM (4/15/2009)
You are correct. I need to have my eyes checked. My bad.
Epyx 9:14AM (4/15/2009)
Distinction without a difference
UCJR 9:55AM (4/15/2009)
OMFG!
But if we don't have gravel roads, and asphalt roads are paved with that oh-so-ecologically-terrible oil by-product, what material shall we create roads with?
Time to break out the old Conestoga wagon, I suppose.
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Conundrum 6:10PM (4/15/2009)
No can do. The horses and cows used to pull your wagon would produce large amounts of methane which we all know is bad for the Ozone layer.
Egon 9:16AM (4/15/2009)
Meh. This is America...sue them too! Somebody's bound to pay up eventually.
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Egon 9:18AM (4/15/2009)
Doh! That was supposed to be a reply under Avinash machado's post.
Avinash machado 9:26AM (4/15/2009)
Sure. America is indeed a sue happy society.
Jim in Tampa 9:32AM (4/15/2009)
I'm going to go have a cup of coffee and a cigarette to think of something witty for a response.
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Avinash machado 9:38AM (4/15/2009)
But cigarettes also cause lung cancer.
Frank 11:18AM (4/15/2009)
Don't hold the cup of coffee between your legs. Unless you want some money from Mr. Coffee. :-)
dukeisduke 9:35AM (4/15/2009)
Sounds like more product liability lawyers with way too much time on their hands.
"Who can we bankrupt next?"
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drmoomoo 9:57AM (4/15/2009)
"North Dakota health officials are looking for 50 volunteers to submit to chest X-rays and CT scans in order to find out if there is a cancer risk, but so far they can't secure enough volunteers."
Because there aren't 50 people in ND. Amirite?
. . .
*boos*
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Galley 10:32AM (4/15/2009)
Population density in parts of western North Dakota is less than one person per square mile. Overall, it's only 9.3/sq. mi.
Swede 10:05AM (4/15/2009)
You know another thing that causes cancer? Sunlight.
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Joe K. 10:24AM (4/15/2009)
Pffff... What doesn't cause cancer these days?
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jc 11:01AM (4/15/2009)
Bunnies