Site Navigation
Iron Range board approves money to study rare cancer in miners
St. Paul, Minn. — (AP) - The Iron Range Resources board wants to put more money into studying a rare lung cancer that strikes miners disproportionately.
The board voted Thursday to spend $250,000 on medical testing as part of a larger study of mesothelioma, the fatal cancer identified in 58 miners. The money won't be spent unless Iron Range Resources Commissioner Sandy Layman and Gov. Tim Pawlenty also approve.
Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, said he proposed the spending because he didn't want the research to wait until the Legislature convenes in February. His proposal would require the state or another entity to match the amount.
Rukavina and others have criticized Pawlenty and the Minnesota Health Department over the mesothelioma issue.
Former Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach resigned after admitting that she waited a year to release data on 35 miners who got mesothelioma.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Photos
More from MPR
- Embattled Mandernach quits Health Department post (08/22/2007)
- Is taconite killing miners? (08/09/2007)
- U of M to take over Iron Range cancer study from beleaguered Health Department (06/29/2007)
- Pawlenty vows to find answers to Iron Range cancer deaths (07/12/2007)
- Miners angered by Health Department delay (06/21/2007)
|
|
