Mesothelioma Risks and Cumulative Exposure to Elongate Mineral Particles of Various Sizes in Minnesota Taconite Mining Industry

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander BH ; MacLehose RF ; Mandel JH ; Ramachandran G ; Shao Y
• Description:
  Objectives: An excess of mesothelioma has been previously observed in iron ore miners in Northeastern Minnesota. This study explored the potential association between mesothelioma and elongate mineral particle (EMP) exposures in the Minnesota taconite mining industry, examining both regulated and non-regulated EMP dimensions. Methods: A nested case-control study design within the Mineral Resources Health Assessment Programme cohort analysed 104 mesothelioma cases and 410 controls. Cumulative EMP exposures were assessed across various dimensional definitions, including regulated (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH) and non-regulated EMPs. Conditional logistic regression models were applied to estimate mesothelioma risk linked to employment duration and cumulative EMP exposure while adjusting for potential confounding variables. Results: Consistent with earlier assessments, mesothelioma was associated with the number of years employed in the taconite industry (rate ratio (RR) 1.02, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.05) and cumulative NIOSH EMP exposure ((EMP/cc)×years) in taconite mining and processing (RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.46). Positive associations were also observed with mesothelioma and cumulative exposure to non-regulated EMPs. Conclusions: This study supported the main conclusions in the previous study that the data were consistent with an association between mesothelioma and employment duration and with NIOSH EMP exposure in taconite mining and processing. However, the 95% CI indicates the data are also compatible with a null effect. Given the limitations we cite in the manuscript, additional study is needed to clarify the effect. Additionally, this study found possible evidence of a positive association between mesothelioma and cumulative exposure to Chatfield EMP, Suzuki EMP and Cleavage Fragments in the Minnesota taconite worker population. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cohort Studies Dust Epidemiology Mining Neoplasms Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Case Control Studies Cohort Studies Mesothelioma Mineral Dusts Mining Industry Particulate Dust Taconite
• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Illinois ; Maryland ; Minnesota ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  7-13
• Volume:
  82
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070498
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2025 Mar; 82(1):7-13
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. Bruce H Alexander, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Email:
  balex@umn.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Taconite (CAS RN 12249-26-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20140501
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20180715
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c0d840f7378b45b14fde76bccb8913d7f613ca5f741b2c81deeee122ca09015c238559d79a20ad1f19c5ff8cf600f0d6b8c9c14cdec2875cbe4ff013e14a7cd0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208696/cdc_208696_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 461.99 KB ]