Nevada is among the states having the highest MM incidence, while asbestos was not produced in this state. Analysis of data from the Nevada Central Cancer Registry indicates that Clark County has abnormally high incidence of exceptionally young MM cases, with a significant low M:F sex ratio. In addition, Nevada shows the highest rates of lung cancer incidence and mortality in women among the western states. High incidence of young lung cancer was recorded in both genders in Clark County. These indicators reveal that an environmental exposure to carcinogenic mineral fibers is very likely the cause of these preventable diseases in Southern Nevada.
Environmental exposure to mineral fibers can happen if 1) there are deposits of fibrous minerals in the natural environment, 2) human activities or high weathering release these fibers in the air, and 3) human population is in contact with the airborne fibers. Several asbestiform minerals were found in the natural environment of Southern Nevada area, including the highly carcinogenic erionite as well as the amphiboles winchite and magnesioriebeckite that have been associated with asbestos-related diseases in Libby, Montana, and other possibly carcinogenic fibrous minerals. The expansion of the human population in Southern Nevada has developed traffic and off-road recreational activities. Dust eroding off of adjacent Federal Lands is likely a major source of those hazardous mineral fibers in Clark County.
Our trans-disciplinary research aims to identify the high-risk areas, sources of fibrous minerals, activities responsible for the release of the fibers, high-risk population, study the carcinogenicity of the different mineral fibers present in the area, and propose strategies to prevent environmental exposure.
Preferred Presentation Type: Oral