A recent Veritasium video flagged naturally occurring asbestos in Nevada dry lake beds, and the Burning Man subreddit lit up with questions: is Black Rock playa one of the risky spots?
Short answer: most Burners in the thread think it’s unlikely. The Veritasium segment — and the 2015 study it references — focused on southern Nevada, where there are known asbestos outcrops. Multiple Reddit commenters pointed out that the closest documented asbestos site to the Black Rock Desert is far away, and that the playa’s surface is dominated by fine silt, gypsum/selenite, and water-soluble salts rather than asbestos fibers.
That said, the thread raised two important health takeaways that apply to anyone who spends time on playa:
- Silica/silt is the bigger long-term worry: Playa dust contains a lot of silicon dioxide. Several commenters compared the risk to occupational silicosis — tiny particles can get deep into lungs and accumulate over years. Masking during dust events is a solid move.
- Reduce what you bring home: Even if asbestos isn’t present, playa dust of any kind gets everywhere. Wash clothing and gear, keep dusty items out of your car and home, and shower after you return.
Other notes from the thread: some people recalled past concerns about uranium and local water in Gerlach, and others emphasized that local geology matters — there are natural asbestos outcrops in parts of the Bay Area and southern Nevada, but that’s not the same as the Black Rock playa.
Practical Burner-safe tips from the discussion:
- Carry and use a certified respirator (N95/KN95 or better) during dust storms and when you see fine airborne dust.
- Mask up even on dusty-but-still days if you have many years of exposure ahead of you or vulnerable lungs (kids, asthma).
- Keep living areas sealed as much as possible, change and bag dusty clothes immediately, and launder separately.
- When in doubt, be cautious — the cumulative effect of repeated exposures is what worries many folks, even if single-event risk seems low.
Bottom line: the Veritasium video raises a useful reminder that dry lake beds can contain hazardous minerals depending on location, but commenters who know the Black Rock playa geology mostly think asbestos isn’t a major concern there. The broader, practical takeaway for Burners: treat playa dust seriously — wear good masks, reduce bringing dust home, and be extra careful with kids and people who have respiratory issues.
Want to dig deeper? The original Veritasium segment and the 2015 AGU abstract were discussed in the Reddit thread on r/burningman — good starting points if you want the source material.
If you’ve done testing of playa dust or work in geology/occupational health, drop your insights in the comments — the community wants solid data, not panic.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/1r7n40u/asbestos_in_playa_dust_veritasium_video/