The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has expressed concern that asbestos like fibers could be released from iron ore mining or sampling in far northern Wisconsin.
Mr Larry Lynch hydrogeologist of DNR said that grunerite is common in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Minnesota’s Iron Range and northern Wisconsin’s Penokee Range. It’s important because it can occur in a crystal form that is fibrous. It’s one of the minerals that’s referred to as asbestos or asbestos form minerals.
Mr Lynch said that in most cases, grunerite is not fibrous, which means it wouldn’t take the shape of asbestos fibers. But they need to find out if that’s the case at Gogebic Taconite’s proposed mining site near Mellen. There could even be a problem with small scale bulk sampling work but he thinks steps proposed by Gogebic Taconite would make the process safe.
He said that “We haven’t completed our review yet but that may be sufficient. It doesn’t mean it won’t be an issue in the future if there is a mining project proposed. Certainly with a full scale mining operation you move much more material (and) there’s much greater particulate emissions.”
Asbestos fibers are linked to mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that has no cure. A 5 year, nearly USD 5 million University of Minnesota study showed the rate of mesothelioma on the Iron Range is almost three times higher than that of the general population in Minnesota.
The study found an association between the length of time a worker spent working in the taconite industry and an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. But researchers also found that the dust containing the particles that may cause lung problems is largely confined to the taconite mines meaning little, if any, seems to filter into the surrounding communities and mines have safety standards and procedures in place that largely protect workers.
Last spring, the University of Minnesota researchers reported that they can’t say for sure that the dust from taconite operations causes mesothelioma, and they said they’re still looking for other possible sources of asbestos outside of the iron ore industry that may have affected the Iron Range workers.
Mr Lynch said that it’s far too early to know if there may be airborne fiber risks from the proposed Gogebic Taconite mine. We’re a long ways away in this project (to) really understanding how waste material is being handled, what the nature of the waste material is. It’s an issue we’re going to have to look at if we get to that point.
Source - Duluthnewstribune.com
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