Mesothelioma Cancer and relationships with Zeolite

Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has long been linked. Since the early days of the Holy Roman Empire has been noted that the slaves who worked in the asbestos mines have lung problems are severe and died at an early age. However, in recent 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 a 25-33 percent of all cases of mesothelioma cancer does not have any relationship with exposure to asbestos. However, the prefix research found some other specific causes. One is the exposure of the zeolite.

Is the zeolite?

Known in scientific terms as alkali hydrated aluminum silicate. Zeolites are a group of minerals that contain most of the hydrated aluminum and silicon compounds. Their common names include clinoptilolite, erionite, Phillipsite, and Mordenite. They are found in volcanic rock and ash, and sometimes used as an additive in animal feed. Because of their porous structure, zeolites can be used as an absorbent (absorbent materials), textile printing materials, detergents, and as water and air purifiers.

Zeolites have also been used in several areas of health, among others, as a supplement to a drunk and an adjuvant therapy for various types of cancer (FDA did not approve of this treatment). But there is still a lack of data supporting the efficacy of the effectiveness of the zeolite and no conclusion as to whether zeolite safe. As a mineral that has a systemic effect on the body, Zeolite also remains unclear to date and in need of further research.

Zeolite relationship with Mesothelioma

It is clear that however exposure to dust zeolite is associated with an increased risk of development of malignant mesothelioma (malignant mesothelioma). Simply to say zeolite carcinogenic when inhaled. As a fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer placing the zeolite in the list of carcinogens class
1. This categorization is given when there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans causes mesothelioma. Erionite is a form of zeolite fibers that are clearly related to the epidemic of mesothelioma in villages in Turkey Anatolian Plateau. In the village the local volcanic tufa filled with toxic zeolite fibers. A report on the epidemic was published in the 2006 edition of March 15 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Doctors in Turkey initiated a study during the 23 years that followed 891 men and women who live in the three villages of different Turkey Cappadocia region. Villagers have been exposed to erionite. The third village used as a controlled villages. During the study which started from 1979 to 2003 as many as 372 people have died. Of the deaths are known to many as 119 people stricken with mesothelioma cancer and died from the disease or complications of the disease. In two villages where residents are exposed to the toxic mineral known deaths from pleural mesothelioma 44.5 percent. While in the third village just happened 2 deaths caused by mesothelioma, and even then it is known that the two of them when they are born not from a controlled village.

Data analysts, including from Harvard professors are Philippe Grandjean, MD, Ph.D., determine due to mesothelioma in the two events. The village filled with erionite occurs 200-700 cases per 100,000 people annually. In the village there are only controlled 10 cases per 100,000 people. Therefore, the conclusion is that long-term exposure to erionite is responsible for the very high incidence of the asbestos cancer cases in certain villages of Cappadocia in the Anatolian Plateau.

After the study was completed, the authors suggest that local officials to concentrate on ways to prevent exposure to the environment from harmful zeolite fibers in the hope of lowering the risk population for disease mesothelioma.

The precipitate natural erionite have been found in several countries of the western United 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. Health implications of natural fibrous zeolites for the Intermountain West. Environ Res 30 (1): 1- 8) noted that local residents are known as "Intermountain West" may be exposed to fibrous zeolite from wind gusts and therefore susceptible to the development of mesothelioma. The state of North Dakota is currently conducting a study related to exposure to erionite area known to have this vast mountain.

Zeolite through the Wiki

Zeolite is a chemical compound with the alumino-silicate hydrated cations sodium, potassium and barium. In general, Zeolite has a unique sruktur melekular, wherein the silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms forming a network with a regular pattern. In some places in this network, Silicon atoms are replaced degan Aluminum atoms, which only coordinated by three oxygen atoms. The aluminum atom only has a charge of 3+, while Silicon itself has a charge of 4+. The existence of this overall aluminum atoms will menyebababkan Zeolites have a negative charge. This negative charge menebabkan Zeolite is able to bind cations.

Zeolites are also commonly referred to as 'molecular sieve' / 'molecular mesh' (molecular sieve) as zeolites have melekuler sized pores so as to separate / filter molecules of a certain size.
Zeolite has several properties such as: easy release of water by heating, but also easy to tie back the water molecules in the damp air. Because of the nature of the zeolite is widely used as a desiccant. Besides, it is also easy to remove the zeolite cations and replaced by other cations, such as sodium zeolite release and replaced with the binding of calcium or magnesium. These properties also cause the zeolite used to soften water. Zeolites with certain cavity size is also used as a catalyst to transform the alcohol into hydrocarbons that can be used as fuel alcohol.