Duluth, MN
Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Duluth
Duluth is the gateway to Minnesota's Iron Range, where taconite mining and processing have been studied for links to mesothelioma. The city's own steel works, shipyards and port added more places where workers encountered asbestos. Families across the region have been affected.
- Filing deadline
- 6 years from diagnosis
- Main asbestos court
- Hennepin County District Court
How asbestos reached Duluth workplaces
Iron ore and taconite shaped Northeastern Minnesota. Taconite processing plants on the Iron Range and along Lake Superior crushed and heated large amounts of rock, and their mills, kilns and power systems used asbestos insulation. Some ore deposits also contain naturally occurring mineral fibers. Minnesota health officials have studied mesothelioma among taconite workers, and the region has drawn close medical attention as a result. Taconite workers include miners, crushing and pelletizing crews, and maintenance staff who repaired kilns and conveyors. Because the plants ran continuously, repair work was ongoing, and many people spent decades in these jobs. Some also held seasonal work in other regional industries.
Duluth itself had a U.S. Steel plant in the Morgan Park neighborhood, and its harbor built and repaired ships, especially during World War II. Steelmaking and shipbuilding both used asbestos insulation and heat-resistant materials. Ore docks, rail yards and lake freighters tied the region together, and many local workers held jobs in more than one of these industries over a career. Lake freighters that carried ore and pellets had engine rooms with asbestos insulation, and sailors and shipyard crews could be exposed while working on them. Many Duluth families have ties to the mines, the steel plant and the lakes at the same time, which can create long, detailed exposure histories.
Trades most exposed locally
Exposure sites
Where Duluth workers encountered asbestos
Historic workplaces most often named in local exposure histories.
U.S. Steel Duluth Works
Steel millMorgan Park, Duluth
A steel and coke plant that operated for decades on the St. Louis River. Furnaces and equipment used asbestos insulation and heat-resistant materials. It closed in the late twentieth century.
Reserve Mining taconite plant
Taconite processingSilver Bay
A large taconite plant on Lake Superior known for a long legal fight over tailings containing mineral fibers discharged into the lake, which supplied Duluth's drinking water.
Iron Range taconite plants
Mining and processingMesabi Range
Taconite mines and processing plants where kilns and mills used asbestos insulation, and where state health studies have examined mesothelioma among workers. Maintenance crews worked around these systems daily.
Filing a claim
Bringing a claim from Duluth
Minnesota asbestos cases may be filed in Hennepin County or in other state courts, including St. Louis County, depending on where exposure happened and where defendants do business. Minnesota's filing deadline for personal injury is longer than in many states, but it still runs out. A free case review can explain how Minnesota rules apply to your situation. Taconite and steel work records can help.
Personal injury
6yr
from diagnosis in Minnesota
Wrongful death
3yr
from the date of death
Our review window
6yr
diagnosis window we accept
Treatment
Specialist care near Duluth
Mesothelioma is rare, so a pathology review and treatment plan from an experienced center matters. Ask your oncologist about referral.
Essentia Health
A Duluth-based health system providing cancer care and oncology services for the region. Some treatment can happen close to home.
Mayo Clinic
A major academic medical center in Rochester with thoracic surgery and oncology specialists. Many Minnesota patients go there for specialist opinions.
University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center
A comprehensive cancer center in Minneapolis offering specialist care and clinical trials. Patients can ask about thoracic specialists.
Further reading
Explainers for Duluth families
Short guides matched to the local industries and the claim process.
Questions
Duluth mesothelioma FAQs
Keep reading
More for Minnesota families
Check a Duluth case today
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