Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study: Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter in Mesabi Iron Range Communities and Taconite Processing Plants - Elemental Chemistry of Particulate Matter

Abstract

The Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study (MTWHS) was initiated in 2008 and included a multicomponent study to further understand taconite worker health issues on the Mesabi Iron Range (MIR) in northeastern Minnesota. Approximately $4.9 million funding was provided by the Minnesota Legislature to conduct five separate studies related to this initiative, including: ▪ An Occupational Exposure Assessment, conducted by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH); ▪ A Mortality (Cause of Death) study, conducted by the University of Minnesota SPH; ▪ Incidence studies, conducted by the University of Minnesota SPH; ▪ A Respiratory Survey of Taconite Workers and Spouses, conducted by the University of Minnesota SPH; and ▪ An Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter, conducted by the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). NRRI’s “Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter” comprises a multi-faceted characterization of size-fractionated airborne particulate matter (PM) from MIR community “rooftop” locations, background sites, and all taconite processing facilities active between 2008 and 2014. Characterization includes gravimetric determinations, chemical characterization, mineralogical characterization, and morphological characterization. This report specifically discusses the elemental chemistry of particulate matter (PM) collected from the rooftops of five communities located within the Mesabi Iron Range (MIR), three reference or background locations, and the six taconite processing plants while they were active (operating) and inactive (temporarily, but completely, shut down). The samples were collected between 2008 and 2011.