A rare mineral form of zeolite that has asbestos-like fibrous properties and is known to be carcinogenic, causing mesothelioma similar to asbestos exposure.
Named after Erio, a region in Turkey where the mineral was discovered, with the mineral suffix '-ite.' The discovery of erionite's toxicity in the 1990s revealed that zeolites, once thought safe, could pose serious health risks.
In a Turkish village, mysteriously high mesothelioma rates were traced to erionite dust in the soil—this discovery overturned assumptions that only commercial asbestos was dangerous and showed nature itself can weaponize minerals against human health.
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