Browsing by Author "Minnesota Department of Health"

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    Determination of the antibiotic and antibiotic resistance footprint in surface water environment of a metropolitan area: Effects of anthropogenic activities
    (2022-09-26) He, Huan; Bueno, Irene; Kim, Taegyu; Wammer, Kristine H.; LaPara, Timothy M.; Singer, Randall S.; Beaudoin, Amanda; Arnold, William A.; heh@umn.edu; He, Huan; University of Minnesota Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering; University of Minnesota Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences; University of St Thomas Department of Chemistry; Minnesota Department of Health
    This study investigated geospatial distributions of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in surface waters and their associations with anthropogenic activities. During July‒October 2020, the concentrations of antibiotics (water and sediment) and ARGs (sediment) were measured at 39 sites in the Twin Cities metropolitan area (Minnesota) that experience a gradient of impacts related to human activities. For water samples, the number of antibiotics detected and the concentrations of certain antibiotics (e.g., sulfonamides) positively correlated with urbanization indicators (e.g., urban percentage, population density, number of wastewater discharge points; ρ =0.32‒0.46, p =0.003‒0.04) and negatively correlated with undeveloped land indicators (e.g., forest; ρ =-0.34‒-0.62, p =<0.00001‒0.04). Antibiotics in sediments exhibited geospatial distribution different from that in corresponding water samples and exhibited no associations with anthropogenic factors. Relative abundances of ARGs were not associated with anthropogenic factors, but several ARGs (e.g., blaoxa, mexB, and sul2) were inversely related to the organic content of sediments (ρ =-0.38‒-0.44, p =0.01‒0.04). Strong correlations were found among relative abundances of various ARGs and intI1 (ρ ≥ 0.67, p < 0.05), highlighting their co-occurrence in (sub)urban surface waters. These results identified promising anthropogenic/environmental factors for predicting antibiotic geospatial distributions and useful gene markers to monitor ARGs in surface waters.
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    Exposures to Commercial Asbestos In Northeastern Minnesota Iron Miners who Developed Mesothelioma
    (2003) Minnesota Department of Health; Brunner, Wendy; Williams, Allan N; Bender, Alan P
    This is primary a public health study on the incidence of mesothelioma in northeastern Minnesota. Its value lies in pointing out human health impacts of mining, and of dumping taconite tailings into the Duluth harbor on the City's drinking water. In both cases asbestos fibers are implicated. Key points linking water resources and human health are extracted and reproduced below. "There is a long history of community concern about a possible link between the mining industry in northeastern Minnesota and the occurrence of cancers and respiratory diseases in that part of the state. In 1973, asbestos-like fibers were found in the Duluth water supply and traced to tailings that had been disposed of in Lake Superior by the Reserve Mining Company. This finding, along with litigation surrounding Reserve's disposal of tailings, prompted studies of the fibers, the effects of ingestion of the fibers, and the morbidity and mortality of iron ore miners, among many other studies. In addition, the Tri-County cancer survey was established by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to monitor cancer rates in northeastern Minnesota. Because of the history of health concerns about mining and the large numbers of people historically employed in iron mining in these counties, the possible relationship between employment in the mining industry and mesothelioma was the primary focus of this study. It was recognized at the outset, however, that at least one other industry unique to northeastern Minnesota significantly contributed to the mesothelioma excess. The former Conwed Corporation plant in Carlton County employed over 5,000 workers between 1958 and 1974, during which time large quantities of commercial asbestos were used in the manufacturing of mineral board and ceiling tile."
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    Final Health Consultation on the proposed thermal treatment
    (University of Minnesota, 2007-06-05) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; Minnesota Department of Health