PrintRequest Information
Mesothelioma and Iron Range Miners’ Study, First Step Finding Answers
St. Paul, MN — January 17, 2008 — The Minnesota Health Department (MDH) released a report on the work history of the 58 Iron Range miners who have died from mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The data will aid the University of Minnesota and MDH in preparation for three studies on mesothelioma and the miners’ health, aimed at determining the source of the illness.
The study, published December 7, 2007, sheds light on background information of the Iron Range miners and mesothelioma, such as where and how long Iron Range miners were employed in the industry. The analysis revealed that they were not diagnosed with mesothelioma until decades after they first started work in the mines.
Mesothelioma and Iron Range Miners’ Background Information
“Among the findings of the new MDH analysis:
- » Almost one–fourth of the 58 workers were employed in the industry for less than one year, while over a fourth were employed for 30 years or more.
- » All but one of the miners who developed mesothelioma were diagnosed 30 years or more after they first went to work in the industry. In five of the cases, the time lag was 60 years or longer.
- » The miners worked at locations scattered across the Iron Range, including all but one of the seven mining operations that were active during the period when they were employed. The exception—Inland Steel—employed only 618 of the 72,000 miners in the group being followed by MDH.
- » Only three of the 58 miners ever worked at the former Conwed plant in Cloquet, which manufactured asbestos ceiling tiles between 1958 and 1974. The Conwed facility is believed to have contributed significantly to elevated mesothelioma rates in northeastern Minnesota, accounting for 25 cases of the illness among the 5,200 people who worked there.” (Minnesota Department of Health, December 7, 2007 )
“This analysis provides us with an important piece of the puzzle as we prepare to study this issue,” said John R. Finnegan Jr., Dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “Questions about mining work and respiratory health have been with us for a long time. This is an important first step in finding some answers.” (Minnesota Department of Health, December 7, 2007)
However, the report doesn't explain how the Iron Range Miners contracted mesothelioma, and what role taconite dust played in making them ill. “It doesn’t really get at the key issue here that’s on everybody’s minds—which is, is there some relationship between these cases and working in the taconite industry?” said Dr. Jeff Mandel, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist who will lead the studies. (La Crosse Tribune, December 8, 2007)
The Link Between Mesothelioma and the Iron Range Miners
The elevated mesothelioma rate in Northern Minnesota has led many scientists to believe that exposure to asbestos might be from inhaling asbestos–like fibers from taconite rocks. The mesothelioma rate in Northern Minnesota is about twice as high than it is elsewhere in the state. Iron Range miners are exposed to large amounts of taconite dust and the dust could be responsible for the high incidence of mesothelioma in the miners.
A combination of three medical studies will attempt to find the link between mesothelioma, taconite dust and the Iron Range miners. The studies are expected to cost 5.5 million and will take three to five years to complete. The studies will include: a cause of death or mortality study from among miners between the 1950s and 1983; a study on respiratory health screening; and, a study on mesothelioma exposure in the workforce. Spouses will also be included because they are often exposed to dust and fibers brought home by the miners.
In addition, the Natural Resources Research Institute of the University of Minnesota Duluth will take lake samples and air samples from the Mesabi Iron Range communities to see if environmental factors played a role in affecting the health of local communities.
“This is the time to figure out what is going on,” Mandel said. “The rate here is clearly elevated. There’s no point in waiting longer.” (Topix, December 18, 2007)
Mesothelioma, Asbestos Exposure and How Brayton Purcell Can Help
For over 24 years, the mesothelioma attorneys of Brayton Purcell have been extensively involved with the legal rights of mesothelioma victims, including injured workers and their families. We have represented both asbestos workers and individuals who have been exposed to asbestos through others. We seek damages to the full extent allowed by law in order to compensate our clients for their pain and suffering, loss of wages, and medical expenses.
If you would like to request more information about how Brayton Purcell’s mesothelioma lawyers can help you, you may contact us through this web site or at our offices. Our main offices are in California, Oregon, and Utah, and we have a nationwide client base—many of our mesothelioma lawyers are admitted in multiple states.
Print