ADAO Applauds Manhattan Beach City Council for Passing Resolution to Repeal the Designation of Asbestos Laden Serpentine as the California State Rock

ADAO Applauds Manhattan Beach City Council for Passing Resolution to Repeal
the Designation of Asbestos Laden Serpentine as the California State Rock

"Drop the Rock" Campaign Urges Statewide Action and Builds Awareness about
Cancer-Causing Asbestos

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Asbestos
Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauds the Manhattan Beach City
Council for passing RESOLUTION NO. 6223 "Urging the state legislature to
repeal the designation of serpentine, the host of asbestos, as the official
state rock, in support of world eradication of asbestos for public health as
urged by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization." ADAO's "Drop the Rock"
Campaign urges statewide action to remove serpentine as the State Rock of
California, which oftentimes contains deadly asbestos.

The resolution from Manhattan Beach represents the first official request to
the California legislature to remove the rock. Chrysotile asbestos, often
found in serpentine, causes cancers and respiratory diseases such as
mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Asbestos, a known carcinogen,
continues to kill tens of thousands of people every year in the United States,
and hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. ADAO continues to work with
Congress on passing legislation to ban asbestos.

In 1965, serpentine was designated as the state rock of California in order to
promote the then-lucrative asbestos mining industry. A practically
indestructible lethal fiber, asbestos has been used for decades in numerous
industries throughout California including building construction and naval
shipyards, as well as in common household products ranging from crayons to
blow dryers.

"California has the dubious distinction of being the state with the highest
recorded number of asbestos-related deaths and the death toll will continue
until the United States Congress passes legislation banning asbestos. We have
a strategic plan in place and look forward to working with asbestos victims
and their families, the John McNamara Foundation, The Pacific Heart, Lung &
Blood Institute, and political leaders - as we move throughout California to
repeal serpentine as the state rock," said Linda Reinstein, Executive Director
and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "ADAO applauds
Mayor Portia Cohen and our Manhattan Beach City Council for their leadership
in protecting public health by passing the 'Drop the Rock' Resolution."

"I thank the Manhattan Beach City Council for moving quickly to pass this
important resolution," said Portia Cohen, Mayor of Manhattan Beach. "It is
unthinkable to have Serpentine as the State Rock of California when more than
7,000 people in our state alone have died from asbestos since 2007."

About Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization:
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims
and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims a united
voice, to help ensure that their rights are fairly represented and protected,
and to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and
often-deadly asbestos-related diseases. ADAO is funded through voluntary
contributions and staffed by volunteers. For more information visit
www.adao.us.

SOURCE Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Kim Larkin of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), Cell:
+1-202-391-5205, klarkin@larkincomm.com