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the family of elongated mineral particles (EMPs) present in the dust from taconite operations could account for this increase. The types of EMPs involved in iron ore mining have not been previously linked to increased mesothelioma risk. As these exposures were examined, researchers did identify a potential link between cumulative exposure to workplace EMPs and mesothelioma in taconite workers. However, the link is not felt to be certain. As a result, the researchers cannot say with assuredness that dust from taconite operations causes mesothelioma. Further data analysis in this area will continue in the coming months. One important finding of the work to date is that the risk of contracting mesothelioma is higher across the entirety of the Range among people who worked longer in the industry, said Jeff Mandel, M.D., M.P.H., a School of Public Health environmental health expert and principal investigator of the study. Unfortunately, there is minimal information on exposure to other sources of asbestos, a specific type of EMP known to cause mesothelioma, which they may have experienced outside of iron ore processing. It is something that we want to continue to look at, if at all possible. Taconite worker mortality In addition to mesothelioma, within the Taconite Workers Health Study researchers researchers assessed causes of death among people born after 1920 who spent time in the iron mining industry in Minnesota. This study includes people working in the taconite industry and the former hematite industry. The causes of death in taconite workers (when compared to Minnesota averages) were higher than expected for three important diseases: mesothelioma, lung cancer and heart disease. Causes of deaths from all three were higher than expected across the Iron Range and not in one particular location. Although working in the taconite industry increases a persons lifetime risk of mesothelioma, the increase equates to a small risk of actually developing the disease. Mesothelioma is still a very rare disease. Because taconite workers have higher rates of death than their counterparts for all types of cancer combined and heart disease, it also appears there are other health considerations impacting people living on the Iron Range and lifestyle appears to be an important factor. Air quality assessment University researchers can also confirm that air quality in communities surrounding the mines is better than most parts of Minnesota in terms of particulates in the air. Also, researchers found that occupational exposures to dust from taconite operations are, generally, within safe limits. In addition, spouses of taconite industry workers are also at no higher risk of contracting dust-related lung diseases than Minnesotas broader general public. Were hopeful that the results to date will allay fears that taconite dust has generated broad harm to the general public, said Mandel. When employers and employees both take the appropriate safety precautions to curtail dust exposures, potentially harmful effects from the dusts can be eliminated. To measure air quality and potential exposure to community residents to dust generated in the
mining processing, researchers from the National Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth collected and looked at air samples from across the Iron Range. This work confirmed, even though the East and West sides of the range have different geologic characteristics, that there are very low concentrations of EMPs in the air among these communities. Challenges and study obstacles Project researchers did encounter obstacles in this work, as gathering exposure data from within the Taconite industry was difficult to secure the further back they tried to go. They were also unable to fully document potential exposure to asbestos products that were used in the industry. Many processing facilities were constructed and maintained in a time period when asbestos was a common building and construction material, but exposures to workers were not regulated or recorded. As part of their annual legislative report on the Taconite Workers Health Study, University researchers will recommend additional considerations should future investigations be undertaken. About the Taconite Workers Health Study The overall objective of the Minnesota Taconite Worker Health Study was to determine whether dust-related lung disease, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and non-malignant respiratory disease, might be related to working in the taconite industry. The study had five main components, including 1) an occupational exposure assessment, 2) a mortality (cause of death) study, 3) cancer incidence studies of mesothelioma and lung cancer, 4) a respiratory health survey of taconite workers and spouses, assessing non-cancerous respiratory disease and 5) an environmental study of airborne particulates. Each study component has utilized an external peer-review process with science advisory boards that have been involved in the projects since the beginning and each of the study's five components provide a perspective thats important to the interpretation of the overall health assessment process.