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Minnesota Iron Miners Developed Mesothelioma
ST. PAUL, MN — April 20, 2007 — Fifty–two workers employed in Minnesota’s iron mining industry have developed mesothelioma since 1998, according to Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) statistics (News Release, March 28, 2007). From 1988 through 2005, the total number of mesothelioma sufferers in the northeastern mining region of the state numbered 136. These figures are twice as high as in other parts of Minnesota, the MDH said, and may be underestimates because prior to 1999, mesothelioma was often coded on state death certificates as another cancer.
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos. An earlier MDH study found 17 iron workers with mesothelioma; the agency discovered 35 more workers among that group with the disease last month. Mesothelioma does not develop until several decades after initial asbestos exposure, so even more miners could be affected.
The study authors suggested that the miners may have been exposed to “commercial asbestos,” defined as asbestos used in insulation and other products. However, they were unable to show a connection between commercial asbestos and mesothelioma for every miner with the disease.
Some scientists believe that the miners were exposed to asbestos through contaminated taconite, the hard rock containing iron and silica used to make iron ore pellets that are melted down into steel. The taconite mine could also contain asbestos contaminants. Miners report being exposed to large amounts of taconite dust, and until recently, they may have worked without respiratory protection.
MDH Proposes a Minnesota Asbestos Study
More than 30 years ago, asbestos–like fibers were found in the local water supply and traced to tailings by the Reserve Mining Company. This prompted the MDH to establish the Tri–County Cancer Survey to monitor the occurrence of cancer in Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties in northeastern Minnesota. Later, in 1997, the state found a rate of mesothelioma in the northeastern part of the state that was 70% higher than the statewide average.
The MDH is now proposing two new studies. One will focus on the same group of workers as the prior study, comparing workers who developed mesothelioma with those who did not. The goal is to obtain more details about job descriptions and everyday tasks. The second study would assess the health risks associated with airborne mineral fragments from taconite ore. The plan is to request federal funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and other sources.
Your Mesothelioma Case
Brayton Purcell is concerned about the health effects of occupational asbestos exposure. If you have been exposed to asbestos and developed lung cancer, mesothelioma or another asbestos–related cancer, please feel free to contact us. We have been helping asbestos victims for over 24 years, and offer a free review of your case as well as information and resources.
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