Researchers at the University of Minnesota are prepared to present an updated report on their study of mesothelioma cancer in the Iron Range area, according to Dr. Jeffrey Mandel, a occupational therapist and faculty member at the university’s School of Public Health.
In addition to the data that U of M researchers have already collected, random screenings of approximately 2,000 individuals will begin in the spring in an effort to further understand why the rates of mesothelioma are so high in this particular region. The screenings are set to take place at the Virginia Regional Medical Center during a period of 6 to 9 months.
The individuals who will undergo the screening process are former miners in the Iron Range region, as well as their spouses. The university is continuing their study of the connection between taconite asbestos exposure and the eventual development of mesothelioma, a fatal type of cancer.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, at least 17 former miners have been diagnosed with asbestos cancer between 1988 and 1996, and the former Department of Health Commissioner, Dianne Mandernach, had been ostracized for failing to release information about an additional 35 cases to the public.
In April, Minnesota lawmakers approved the study, which is expected to cost about $5 million dollars.
The upcoming screenings will include a health history evaluation, a heart and lung exam, a chest x-ray, a blood test and respiratory tests, according to Dr. Mandel. The individuals who have been randomly selected will be notified in the upcoming months.
So far, U of M researchers have been busy collecting information about former mine worker’s employment history to determine whether or not working in the taconite mines increased their risk of developing mesothelioma.
The Natural Resources Research Institute, located in Duluth, has also been conducting air testing at various locations in the Iron Range to determine whether or taconite asbestos is present.
The update will be presented at the Mountain Iron Community Center on December 18th at 6:30 in the evening hours. Members of the U of M School of Public Health will be on hand to present their findings and answer questions.
The Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have long recognized the connection between previous exposure to asbestos and the eventual onset of mesothelioma. In Libby, Montana, thousands of individuals living in the community have developed asbestos-caused illnesses as a result of asbestos contamination from the former W.R. Grace mines. Similar studies have occurred in Libby.
The Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center encourages all residents living in the Iron Range area to attend Thursday’s information session in an effort to better understand the causes of mesothelioma cancer, as well as the steps that can be taken to prevent eventual onset of this fatal disease.
The Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center is the Internet’s most trusted source for information about asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatment options and more, and is accredited by the Health On The Net Foundation as a reliable source of medical information on the web.
