A Case-Control Study of Mesothelioma in Minnesota Iron Ore (Taconite) Miners

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander BH ; Lambert CS ; MacLehose RF ; Mandel JH ; Nelson HH ; Ramachandran G ; Ryan, Andrew D.
• Description:
  Objectives: An excess of mesothelioma has been observed in iron ore miners in Northeastern Minnesota. Mining and processing of taconite iron ore generate exposures that include elongate mineral particles (EMPs) of amphibole and non-amphibole origin. We conducted a nested case-control study of mesothelioma in a cohort of 68 737 iron ore miners (haematite and taconite ore miners) to evaluate the association between mesothelioma, employment and EMP exposures from taconite mining. Methods: Mesothelioma cases (N=80) were identified through the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System (MCSS) and death certificates. Four controls of similar age were selected for each case with 315 controls ultimately eligible for inclusion. Mesothelioma risk was evaluated by estimating rate ratios and 95% CIs with conditional logistic regression in relation to duration of taconite industry employment and cumulative EMP exposure [(EMP/cc)×years], defined by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 7400 method. Models were adjusted for employment in haematite mining and potential exposure to commercial asbestos products used in the industry. Results: All mesothelioma cases were male and 57 of the cases had work experience in the taconite industry. Mesothelioma was associated with the number of years employed in the taconite industry (RR=1.03, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.06) and cumulative EMP exposure (RR=1.10, 95% CI 0.97 to -1.24). No association was observed with employment in haematite mining. Conclusions: These results support an association between mesothelioma and employment duration and possibly EMP exposure in taconite mining and processing. The type of EMP was not determined. The potential role of commercial asbestos cannot be entirely ruled out. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asbestos Epidemiology Ferrous Compounds Inorganic Chemicals Minerals Mining Neoplasms Occupational Diseases Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Hematite Mesothelioma Mineral Processing Miners Mining Industry Occupational Diseases Taconite
• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  103-109
• Volume:
  73
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064210
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2016 Feb; 73(2):103-109
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Jeffrey H Mandel, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 807, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
• Email:
  mand0125@umn.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4) ; Hematite (Fe2O3) (CAS RN 1317-60-8) ; Taconite (CAS RN 12249-26-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:167983112a646babca18109f6e58fc506b77669d8e4219b58d492d98c0c105eb641db4db3f983eaf60cc94d0393f7f925aec777caf1035f082f228a42a574eff
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222715/cdc_222715_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 297.12 KB ]