Subjects Sought in Minnesota Mesothelioma Study

Researchers from the University of Minnesota have sent letters to workers and former workers at the state's taconite mines that ask them to participate in a study about the effects of working in the mines and the preponderance of mesothelioma cases. The study is set to concentrate on workers who live in the state's Iron Range region and seeks to discover why residents in that area have a higher-than-normal concentration of patients diagnosed with the disease.

According to data gathered from local hospitals in the area, at least fifty-eight residents have died from the disease. This number of fatal cases stands out significantly from any statistical norms. One state study conducted in 2003 suggested that asbestos from building materials, such as pipes, boilers and insulation, might have contributed to the high number of cases.

The new study asserts that dust from nearby taconite mines was never considered in the research for the previous effort. While the results of such a study will not be of immediate benefit for patients who have already succumbed to the disease, the hope is that this research will call attention to the problems involved with working in these mines and will cause both supervisors and workers alike to focus on more stringent safety measures.

Diana Harvey, assistant dean for external affairs at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, said about the new study, "This is an historic opportunity to get to the bottom of an issue that's been lingering for decades. There's a lot of community awareness, but now we're getting into the nuts and bolts."

The research effort involves sending letters to miners and former miners who worked in the Iron Range. The letters invite the workers to participate in a medical history questionnaire, receive chest x-rays, blood workups and respiratory tests. These tests will be administered free of charge to participants and will provide valuable data to researchers, with the funding for the study coming from the state Department of Health, the University of Minnesota, and Iron Range Resources.

The lead investigator for this study, Dr. Jeff Mandel, said, "Do miners die of things more than they should, compared to rates elsewhere in the state? This is about any health problem that could be related to dust exposure."

The research project consists of five main parts:

Occupational Exposure Assessment. The Occupational Exposure Assessment will examine contemporary and historical exposures to dust and other particles from taconite mining processes and additional pertinent factors, in addition to assessing ongoing routines to curb exposure levels for current miners.
Mortality Study. The Mortality Study will look into the death rates in the region as well as deaths from particular causes among the mineworkers sampled.
Cancer Incidence Study. The Cancer Incidence Study will ascertain if long-term exposure to dust and other particles from mining operations is associated with the incidence of specific types of cancer.
Respiratory Health Survey. The Respiratory Health Survey of mine workers and their spouses will examine current miners and their spouses for breathing disorders linked to inhaling taconite particles.
Environmental Study. The Environmental Study of Airborne Particulates will measure types and concentrations of assorted forms of dust and particulate matter in numerous spots around the area.

The goals of the study will be to learn more about historical exposure patterns, analyze current exposure levels and evaluate ongoing safety measures in the taconite mines. Researchers expect to have completed gathering and analyzing all the data and to have a complete report ready in the next three to five years.

Sources: University of Minnesota, Duluth News Tribune

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