Monday, July 27th, one month after the initial planning meeting, University of Minnesota health researchers began sending letters to both current and former taconite workers, and their families, of Minnesota's Taconite Iron Range mine. The University is enlisting them in a wide-ranging study of mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
The research is being conducted to determine why so many Iron Range workers have been diagnosed, or are dying, from mesothelioma. To date there has been no link between mesothelioma and taconite. However, 52 workers at the mine have been diagnosed with the rare cancer.
A university spokeswoman said the first batch of thousands of letters have been sent to those selected, regardless of their health status, inviting them to participate in the screening program.
$4.9 million was funded by the Legislature last year for the five-year study.
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