Deal paves way for Iron Range cancer study
April 18, 08 by TheFleetIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Brian Bakst | Source: Duluth News Tribune
ST. PAUL (AP) - Comprehensive research of a rare cancer afflicting Iron Range miners will go forward …
The state Senate gave preliminary approval to the research money. A final vote will come as soon as Monday. It then moves back to the House, where DFL Majority Leader Tony Sertich promised swift action.
“Everyone is in agreement that this study needs to be done,” said Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm. “Some way, somehow we need to get to the bottom of this.”
The state Health Department has said 58 deaths in Northeastern Minnesota are blamed on mesothelioma, which is usually caused by asbestos and has turned up among dozens of taconite miners. Male residents of the region have come down with mesothelioma at unusually high rates since the late 1980s.
The University of Minnesota will lead the studies.
