Minnesota, a state of great natural beauty and resources, is home to a number of flourishing industries in which workers have been known to experience toxic asbestos exposure. For centuries, the iron ore industry has been a leading industry in the state, exposing workers to harmful suspended particles such as silica dust and airborne asbestos fibers. Other jobsites that have put Minnesota workers at risk for asbestos exposure include:
- Mining
- Processing plants
- Power plants
- Oil refineries
- Construction sites
Workers aren’t the only Minnesota residents at risk of asbestos exposure. Since asbestos has been used in over 3,000 applications, people may also be at risk of dangerous asbestos exposure in their homes or in government buildings, such as schools, libraries and courthouses.
Years of continued asbestos exposure is incredibly harmful, and can cause incurable conditions such as asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer. These illnesses often require expensive treatments and can affect entire families.
Our attorneys help families affected by asbestos seek and recover the compensation they need to seek out the best medical treatments, pay expensive medical bills, meet their financial responsibilities and achieve the highest quality of life following a mesothelioma diagnosis. To learn how we can help you, please contact us today.
Jobsites with Asbestos Problems in Minnesota
Some of the facilities in this state that have had serious asbestos exposure problems are:
- Big Stone Lake Point
- Hoot Lake Plant
- Marathon
- Monticello Nuclear Power Plant
- Koch Petroleum
If you worked in these facilities, you should have regular health examinations to determine if you are developing any asbestos-related diseases.
Also, be aware that there has been a spike in asbestos illnesses among workers who were employed by the taconite mines in the Iron Hills area of Minnesota.
Taconite Industry and Mesothelioma
Minnesota’s first asbestos deposits were found in the Iron Hills area, which is where many iron mines were operating again in the 1970s. Since that time, US iron supplies have dwindled, and the industry now used a waste product called taconite to extra any iron possible. Much of this waste product is infested with asbestos. In particular, taconite contains deadly amphibole asbestos.
Statistics suggest that the risk of developing mesothelioma rises substantially by 3% for every year a worker was employed in taconite mining. The rates for these workers dying from lung cancer and heart disease also was found to be higher than average. The data suggested that the workers had a 30% higher chance of dying from heart ailments. This data came from a clinical study that cost $5 million and studied hundreds of former taconite workers in Minnesota.
Approximately 60 miners in this region have reportedly died from mesothelioma. However, there could be many more who died as well. Before 1999, the state health department did not report these deaths specifically as mesothelioma – only as cancer related deaths.
Questions about these taconite mines have long been a question in this area of Minnesota, and not just for the workers themselves. In 1973, taconite fibers were found in the water supply in Duluth. It was traced to taconite waste rock that was dumped in Lake Superior.
The MN Department of Health confirmed that there was a much higher rate of mesothelioma for men in NE Minnesota, and it was concluded it most likely was because asbestos mine workers were handling parts of the taconite production duties.
Cities With Asbestos Exposure Problems in Minnesota
If you lived or worked in the below communities, you may have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos:
- Duluth
- Mankato
- Rochester
- Paul
- Minneapolis
Mesothelioma Lawyer Minnesota: How We Can Help
Our mesothelioma attorneys can help determine where and when you were exposed to asbestos and who may be held responsible for your damages. Once we determine who may be at fault, we will provide you with a list of legal options and help you decide how you want to proceed. In some cases a lawsuit will provide the best chance at a significant recovery, but in other cases, you may be eligible to collect compensation from a fund that has been set aside for people with similar circumstances.
Every case is different and needs to be evaluated by an experienced attorney. Once we have determined whether you have a legitimate case, we will help you seek and recover the maximum amount of compensation possible. Damages we can seek include:
- Past, present and future medical bills
- Long term treatment and care
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Decreased quality of life
- Lost social and economic support (in death cases)
- Have You Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, our asbestos attorneys may be able to help you. We have vast experience helping industry workers and families across the state of Minnesota seek and recover compensation for medical bills and other damages. To learn more, schedule a free and private consultation by calling 1-800-352-0871.
