Back in 2008, the University of Minnesota launched the Taconite Workers Health Study, in response to the discovery of an unusual number of cases of mesothelioma in miners. Doctors found that taconite workers have a higher than expected death rate from three diseases: 1) mesothelioma 2) lung cancer 3) heart disease They determined that the length of time people worked in the industry was linked to higher levels of mesothelioma, but not lung cancer.
