Asbestos in Minnesota
Many industries in Minnesota used asbestos-containing products. Workers in iron mining, manufacturing and other trades may have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos exposure may lead to serious health issues, including mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Minnesota
Asbestos Use in Minnesota
Minnesota has an extensive history of asbestos use, specifically in the workplace. Companies that manufactured and sold asbestos products may have put workers at risk of exposure. These companies include Conwed Corporation and Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company (3M). Businesses in other industries, like mining, may also have exposed people on the job.
Asbestos-containing materials, such as floor tiles and insulation, were also used in residential and commercial construction throughout Minnesota. Asbestos exposure may cause serious health problems, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Minnesota Asbestos Statistics
Asbestos has been present in Minnesota workplaces as early as the 19th century. This is because of the state’s booming iron ore mining industry. Extracting and processing raw iron ore releases harmful particles, including silica dust and asbestos fibers. Breathing in these particles may cause asbestos-related diseases.
Minnesota is still the largest producer of iron ore and taconite, a low-grade iron ore, in the United States. Seven taconite plants are presently operating in the state. Minnesota also has two known sites of natural asbestos deposits.
Key facts and statistics about asbestos and mesothelioma in Minnesota from 1999 to 2020 include:
- Minnesota ranked 15th for the most mesothelioma cases in the United States at 1,529.
- Minnesota ranked 14th for the most mesothelioma deaths in the United States at 1,285.
- Hennepin, Ramsey, St. Louis and Dakota Counties had the highest mesothelioma mortality in the state.
Mesothelioma patients in Minnesota can access experienced mesothelioma doctors and care teams at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Other treatment options are also available in nearby states.
Anyone with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases in Minnesota or the surrounding areas may qualify to seek compensation. Skilled Minnesota mesothelioma lawyers can help asbestos-exposure victims determine their legal options and file lawsuits on their behalf.
Occupational Asbestos Use in Minnesota
Documented mesothelioma cases in Minnesota point to two main sources of occupational asbestos exposure. These include the mining industry and Conwed Corporation (Wood Conversion Company).
Other industries with known asbestos exposure in Minnesota include flour mills, manufacturers, oil refineries and power plants. Workers in these industries were at high risk of asbestos exposure, which may lead to asbestos-related diseases.
- Boiler workers
- Brick masons
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Crane operators
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Factory workers
- Firefighters
- HVAC workers
- Industrial workers
- Insulators
- Machinists
- Mechanics
- Metal workers
- Mine workers
- Oil refinery workers
- Painters
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Power plant workers
- Railroad workers
- Steel workers
- Veterans
- Welders
Minnesotans may face non-occupational exposure risks from asbestos in older homes and residential buildings. Asbestos can be found in adhesives, appliance parts, flooring, insulation, roofing and many other construction materials.
Vermiculite ore was previously used in home insulation, most commonly in attics. While not all materials with vermiculite contain asbestos, some of them do. Anyone exposed to asbestos-contaminated materials in the home may be at risk of mesothelioma and other serious health concerns.
Iron Ore Mining
In 1865, Minnesota companies began mining iron ore in the Mesabi Range. Iron ore was also mined in the Cuyuna Range, Vermilion Range and Fillmore County. In 1956, taconite mining and production began.
By the late 1990s, mesothelioma cases in Minnesota’s taconite miners had suddenly increased. The state conducted health studies on these workers. In addition to harmful airborne particles, their findings showed that many mines used asbestos products from the 1950s through the early 1970s.
In 2008, the Minnesota Department of Health presented new data that showed 3 – 24 employees had been diagnosed with mesothelioma since they began working for one or more of the following companies:
- Eveleth Mines, LLC
- Hanna Mining Company
- Jones and Laughlin Steel Company (J&L Steel)
- Pickands Mather Company
- Reserve Mining Company
- U.S. Steel
Manufacturers
Well-known manufacturers in Minnesota, like Conwed Corporation and 3M, used asbestos in their products to increase heat and fire resistance, durability and strength.
Conwed Corporation
From 1958 to 1974, the Conwed plant in Cloquet, Minnesota, made asbestos ceiling tiles and other asbestos-containing products. During this time, the company purchased 50 – 120 tons of asbestos per month.
Employees who worked at Conwed Corporation may have been exposed to dust that contained asbestos. Workers in the following departments may have had more exposure than others:
- Balsam Wool Pulp Mill
- Lo Tone
- Maintenance and repairs
- Nuwood Board Mill, Nuwood Finishing, Nuwood Shipping
Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company (3M)
Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, 3M has been in operation since 1902. From 1935 to 1986, 3M produced numerous asbestos-containing products, including adhesives and caulks. The company also made personal protective equipment that did not adequately protect workers from inhaling asbestos.
3M put both workers and consumers at an increased risk of exposure and asbestos-related diseases. The company’s past asbestos use has led to thousands of asbestos-related lawsuits against them.
Western Mineral Products
Located in Northeast Minneapolis, Western Mineral Products is a manufacturer that processed vermiculite ore from 1938 to 1989. After processing, the company used the material in insulation because it was light and porous.
Western Mineral Products received their vermiculite ore from Libby, Montana. The ore from this is now known to contain mineral fibers, referred to as Libby asbestos. After processing the ore, the leftover waste rock was set outside and free for anyone to take home.
Many people in this part of Minneapolis used the rocks in their barbecues, driveways, gardens and yards. Children often played on piles of these rocks, as well. These waste rocks were contaminated with asbestos.
Flour Mills
Flour mills may have been a source of asbestos exposure in Minnesota. In the late 19th century, dozens of flour mills opened in Minneapolis, turning the city into an industrial hub. Minneapolis was known as the “Flour Milling Capital of the World” or “Mill City” for several decades.
At the industry’s peak, 25 flour mills were operating in the area. Three companies owned these mills: Washburn-Crosby Company, Pillsbury Company and Northwestern Consolidated Milling Company. During this time, mills were often constructed using asbestos materials and supplied with equipment that contained asbestos.
Oil Refineries
Across the United States, oil refineries are known sites of asbestos exposure. Many oil refineries used asbestos materials, like gaskets, insulation and pipes. These products worked well for heat and chemical resistance. Oil refinery workers exposed to asbestos may develop serious health conditions like mesothelioma.
Minnesota is home to two major oil refineries, the Marathon St. Paul Park refinery and the Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. Both refineries are directly or indirectly linked to Koch Industries Inc., a multinational conglomerate corporation.
In 2000, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cited Koch Petroleum Group L.P., multiple times for pollution. The subsequent agreements included Koch improving its pollution-control measures. The corporation also paid a penalty for Clean Air Act violations and other environmental claims at the St. Paul Park refinery. That same year, Koch Pipeline Co. agreed to a $35 million settlement for two oil pipeline spills.
Power Plants
The Northeast Power Plant of Austin Utilities in Austin, Minnesota, operated from 1971 to 2016. The demolition process for this power plant began in November 2021, starting with removing all asbestos and equipment inside the facilities.
Many power plants built before the 1980s were constructed with fireproofing materials, insulation and other asbestos-containing products. These building materials can deteriorate over time, releasing asbestos fibers and putting workers at risk of exposure.
Questions About Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in Minnesota? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question
Asbestos Superfund Sites in Minnesota
The EPA has identified two Superfund sites in Minnesota with asbestos contamination: Agate Lake Scrap Yard and Olmsted County Sanitary Landfill. Both sites performed extensive cleanup efforts and have since been taken off the Superfund List.
Agate Lake Scrap Yard
The Agate Lake Scrap Yard is in Fairview Township, Minnesota. The site was added to the Superfund List in 1986 because of contamination in groundwater, soil and surface water. Asbestos-containing pipe insulation was also found on the property.
Upon cleaning up the site, the EPA actively monitored the property and performed several five-year reviews. When groundwater contamination levels reached a healthy goal in 1997, the Agate Lake Scrap Yard was removed from the Superfund List.
Olmsted County Sanitary Landfill
Located in Oronoco, Minnesota, the Olmsted County Sanitary Landfill first opened in 1970. The site accepted commercial, industrial and mixed municipal solid waste, including asbestos materials and solvents.
The Olmsted County Sanitary Landfill was added to the Superfund List in 1986. It stopped accepting most waste in 1987 and permanently closed in 1993. The EPA removed the site from the Superfund List in 1995. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency oversees its operation and maintenance as part of its Closed Landfill Program.
Asbestos Exposure in Minnesota Cities
Asbestos exposure occurred in a number of Minnesota cities at various jobsites. For example, Minneapolis was a major manufacturing hub during the time when asbestos use was common. Workers in the manufacturing industry may have encountered asbestos in their day-to-day activities.
Exposure may have happened in other cities as well. Mesothelioma patients can speak to an attorney to determine if their workplace may have had asbestos on site.
Asbestos Risks at Other Minnesota Jobsites
The use of asbestos materials has been confirmed at jobsites across Minnesota. Select a city or town below for a list of work sites with known asbestos exposure. Any level of exposure puts workers at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Sources
Allen EM, Alexander BH, MacLehose RF, Nelson HH, Ryan AD, Ramachandran G, et al. Occupational exposures and lung cancer risk among Minnesota taconite mining workers. Occup Environ Med. 2015 Sep;72(9):633–9.
Brunner WM, Williams AN, Bender AP. Investigation of exposures to commercial asbestos in northeastern Minnesota iron miners who developed mesothelioma. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2008 Oct;52(1 Suppl):S116-120.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER: About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER: United States and Puerto Rico Cancer Statistics, 1999-2021 Incidence Request.
DeSmog. Congress Investigates How Marathon Petroleum and Koch Network Influenced Clean Cars Rollbacks.
KIMT3 News. Demolition to begin on Northeast Power Plant in Austin.
Mandel JH, Odo NU. Mesothelioma and other lung disease in taconite miners; the uncertain role of non-asbestiform EMP. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2018 Dec 15;361:107–12.
Mill City Museum. Minneapolis Flour Milling Boom.
Minnesota Department of Health. Homeowner Information.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Historical Perspective.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Mining in Minnesota.
MNopedia. Minneapolis Flour-Milling Industry During World War I.
Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives. Minnesota’s Petroleum Infrastructure: Pipelines, Refineries, Terminals.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Koch Petroleum Group, L.P. Refinery Settlement.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. KOCH PETROLEUM GROUP SENTENCED FOR MINNESOTA POLLUTION.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Superfund Site: AGATE LAKE SCRAPYARD, FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP, MN.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Superfund Site: OLMSTED COUNTY SANITARY LANDFILL, ORONOCO, MN.
United States Geological Survey. Reported Historic Asbestos Prospects and Natural Asbestos Occurrences in the Central United States.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Mesothelioma in Taconite Workers Most Likely Due to Asbestos.
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Jennifer Lucarelli
Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Advisor
For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.
