SB 624: Symbolic Legislation to Remove Serpentine, the Host Rock for Asbestos, as the California State Rock

California’s State Rock is Serpentine, which is the host rock for asbestos, a human carcinogen.SB 624 is an act to repeal Section 425.2 of the Government Code, relating to the state rock.  

Facts about Serpentine: Federal Reports and Published Peer Reviewed Papers  

Removing serpentine as California’s State Rock is a symbolic public health initiative that began nearly three years ago through the efforts of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and The John McNamara Foundation, and the Pacific Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, three groups dedicated to raising public awareness about asbestos to prevent exposure, thus eliminating diseases.  

Serpentine, which was formally recognized in 1965 to promote California’s then lucrative asbestos mining industry.  The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources August 2009 peer reviewed publication “Facts about Serpentine Rock and Soil Containing Asbestos in California” confirms ‘asbestos has been classified as a carcinogen by state, federal and international agencies.  

SB 624 provides an invaluable opportunity to educate California’s citizens about the hazards of asbestos, as well as recognize the victims and their families, in California, who have suffered the trauma of asbestos-related diseases and death.   

We encourage you to contact your Assembly Member this week and ask them to support SB 624, to symbolically  remove Serpentine as our office state rock. 

In unity,