This spring, health screenings will begin for northeastern Minnesota miners and their spouses as a part of a $4.9 million, five year long study to determine what has caused such high levels of mesothelioma cases among iron mine workers in the area. There have been 59 identified cases of mesothelioma among the iron mine workers taking part in the study; who all worked in the Minnesota mines beginning in the 1930’s all the way up until 1982. Seventeen of these miners were known to have developed mesothelioma between 1988 and 1996.  

It was not until 2007, however, that the Health Commissioner of Minnesota Dianne Mandernach came under fire for not releasing information about an additional 35 known mesothelioma cases. State officials soon called for an investigation into these additional mesothelioma cases at which point the Minnesota legislature approved the $4.9 million study - not only to find out the cause of the high number of mesothelioma cases but how it can be prevented as well.   

Dr. Jeffery Mandel, an occupational physician at the University of Minnesota, said that they plan to complete the random and voluntary screening of 2,000 people over a 6 - 9 month period. Those who have been selected for the screening should be notified in the next several months. The screening will include; a physical heart and lung exam, a chest x-ray, breathing test, and a blood test.

If you would like to hear about the progress being made on the study, researchers will be discussing it tonight at 6:30 PM at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The presentation is scheduled to last one hour and additional time will be made available for the public to ask questions.