Minnesota Miners to Participate in Health Study
Miners and retired miners who worked on the Iron Range in Minnesota are invited in participate in a mesothelioma study. The northeastern corner of Minnesota has twice the average rate of mesothelioma, and health officials want to know why. Early studies conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health indicated that the rash of mesothelioma cases was due to exposure to commercial asbestos, such as insulation, fireproofing, or tiles. But some health officials now believe that miners may have been exposed to asbestos-laced taconite ore.
Several informational meetings have been held for the public in an effort to raise awareness about the study. The University of Minnesota's School of Public Health will conduct the study, and will need to find 1,200 mine workers as well as 800 spouses to examine for the study. Participants in the study will receive physical checkups, breathing tests, x-rays, and blood work to identify any health problems. Each appointment will only take about 2 hours. The study will look for instances of cancer, as well as other respiratory illnesses. Many retired miners have problems with respiratory health, including severe shortness of breath.
Within the next two weeks, letters with more information will be mailed out to potential volunteers. All test results will be kept confidential, but results can be shared with doctors if requested. Results from the battery of tests will be made available to participants within one month, but the entire study's results will not be available until next year.
Mesothelioma, which is often referred to as asbestos cancer, is diagnosed in about 2,500 Americans annually.
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