Environmental and occupational exposure to erionite and related health risks: progress and prospects

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Occupational Health
• Toxicology

Background:

• Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous zeolite and a known human carcinogen.
• It is believed to be more potent than asbestos in causing mesothelioma.
• Limited knowledge exists regarding erionite exposure pathways due to its rare commercial use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on erionite exposure, associated health effects, and exposure circumstances.
• To identify knowledge gaps in understanding erionite's health risks.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review of Medline/PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted.
• Keywords included "erionite exposure" and "health outcomes" up to the end of 2024.

Main Results:

• 26 articles reported erionite exposure linked to mesothelioma and lung cancer.
• High mesothelioma incidence was observed in Cappadocia, Turkey, and Guanajuato, Mexico, linked to environmental exposure.
• Limited data exists on occupational erionite exposure and its health effects, particularly in regions like the US.

Conclusions:

• Environmental erionite exposure in Turkey and Mexico is causally linked to high mesothelioma rates.
• Evidence for erionite-related health effects in other regions is limited.
• Further research on occupational erionite fiber exposure and health impacts is recommended.