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Mesothelioma News | 2008
House Vote Gives University Money for Mesothelioma Research
A bill passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives will give $4.9 million to the University to study a rare and fatal form of cancer, but a veto has been threatened by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Researchers at the University's Duluth and the Twin Cities campuses will collaborate to study a rare and deadly form of lung cancer called mesothelioma.
This study has become a priority for some since the Minnesota Department of Health released statistics demonstrating a high incidence of mesothelioma in northern Minnesota taconite miners said occupational physician in the School of Public Health, Jeffrey Mandel.
He said, "They considered the number of cases in miners, and within that group, the incidence of mesothelioma was substantially higher than it was supposed to be".
At least 58 people have been found by The Minnesota Department of Health to be diagnosed with the disease as of last summer. 500,000 is the national average mesothelioma rate.
Mandel said, "We believe that those funds will clarify several important issues for those miners. It will show us the relationship of taconite exposure to those cases … The money will also help determine whether miners are dying from diseases at higher than expected rates."
He further said, "Asbestos exposure accounts for many of the cancer cases."
The dean of the School of Public Health, John Finnegan, said the research is separated into four different studies, three of which look at the health of current and former miners and causes of death in the miners.
The fourth study by a Duluth research team will examine air particle samples in northern Minnesota cities to evaluate them relative to the reported mesothelioma cases.
Finnegan said, "The presence of mesothelioma hints at other lung-related ailments, like asthma. All of these studies will help us understand what's happening with these cases. We're also studying what else might be out there."
Larry Zanko, who is a researcher at Duluth's Natural Resources Research Institute, said a form of iron ore called Taconite is made up of a magnetic form of iron.
He further commented that more iron ore and taconite are produced in Minnesota than any other state and The Minnesota Iron Range, where mesothelioma is prevalent, is one of the largest in the country.
People who worked in the mines as far back as the 1950s could be affected today because mesothelioma has a long latency period. The remaining question, however, is what directly caused the disease.
He said, "Is it something in the rock or is it due to workplace exposure from commercial asbestos products that have been used in plants for many years?"
Interestingly, in the 1920's, the University was involved in research that led to taconite mining said Finnegan.
He said, "Now, in the 21st century, the University is also involved in understanding some of the health ramifications that may be a result of that mining effort."
This is not the University's first attempt to research the disease. The University attempted to get funding about 25 years ago, but never received enough to get too far with the study.
He said, "With dribs and drabs of money the study never gets to be completed the way it should be."
The research will be funded by the $4.9 million and some research is already underway due to University funding received this summer.
Funding is expected to come from the state's workers' compensation special fund which is prompting Pawlenty to threaten a veto. The bill passed by a vote of 88-45.
Finnegan said the passage of the bill is important to moving research forward.
He said, "This is probably the best chance we've had in 25 years to get the research done in the right way."
