Mesothelioma News

Minnesota health department seeks studies of asbestos related diseases

July 26, 2005

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Health are hoping to launch three studies into possible health risks on the Iron Range because of asbestos exposure. The agency approached researchers at the University of Minnesota about studying lung cancer deaths among 7,000 mine workers to determine which Iron Range jobs might carry the greatest asbestos-related health risks.

According to Alan Williams, a department epidemiologist, some Northshore Mining Co. workers have been exposed to elevated asbestos levels in taconite dust, which could help the agency get money this year for one of the two other studies the department is trying to get financed in order to shed light on asbestos disease patterns on the Iron Range. That study would track job illnesses and analyze the job histories of Minnesota victims of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of lung cancer and is considered the deadliest asbestos disease. Williams said the study would answer questions regarding the naturally occurring fibers in taconite dust, which the mine safety agency found in 2001 causes adverse health effects.

In 2003, a Health Department study named commercial asbestos the likely culprit for 17 mesothelioma cases found among mine workers, but it did not exclude the possibility that ore dust was a contributing factor. Although a series of industry financed studies found no indication of elevated lung cancer, the Health Department uncovered an outbreak of mesothelioma deaths caused by asbestos exposure later.

State Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, said he was "soured" by the 2003 state-funded mesothelioma study because it failed to explore workers' asbestos exposure in taconite dust.

For more information on asbestos related illnesses and death, please contact us to confer with an attorney.

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