Sulfide-ore Mining and Human Health in Minnesota

MARCH/APRIL 2022 | MINNESOTA MEDICINE

BY JENNIFER PEARSON, MD; DEB ALLERT, MD; JOHN IPSEN, MD, PHD; MARGARET SARACINO, MD; STEVE SUTHERLAND, MD; KRIS WEGERSON, MD; AND EMILY ONELLO, MD

For many years, Minnesotans have been reading headlines regarding the prospecting, permitting and potential for sulfide-ore copper nickel (sulfide-ore) hardrock mining in Minnesota. Although the debate is not a new one, the landscape surrounding decisions regarding this type of mining within Minnesota’s borders is dynamic and constantly changing. As 2021 was ushered in, so were new legislative and legal efforts affecting sulfide-ore mining. Amid state and federal legislation and lawsuits, healthcare providers in Minnesota have continued to stay abreast and weigh in on the potential human health effects of these decisions. Given the shifting landscape, it is timely to understand where we are right now and why concerns for human health remain at the forefront of this issue.

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