At a joint legislative hearing in which Minnesota legislators and citizens expressed their anger at the Minnesota Department of Health for concealing reports of mesothelioma cases among Iron Range miners, Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) announced that the University of Minnesota will take over research studies originally planned by the Health Department. The research will test the rock and dust of the Iron Range taconite mines to determine whether the cases of mesothelioma –a rare form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure– and other diseases among the miners are because of commercial asbestos-containing products used at the mines or the asbestos-like fibers found in taconite dust. The Health Commissioner promised to cooperate with the university. The dean of the university’s School of Public Health pledged that the school would pay for the research until the Minnesota Legislature provides funding. Some of the research may take three to five years to complete.
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