Minnesota has a world-class health care system, high rates of health insurance coverage, and is one of the states where its residents spend the least amount of their income on health insurance (ranked 47 out of 50).
Yet despite these positive factors, Minnesota has some of the highest cancer rates in the country - and researchers need to know why. Last year, more than 37,000 Minnesotans received a cancer diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society. Cancer affects people from all walks of life, but folks living in rural areas and people of color are disproportionately affected.
The University of Minnesota 10,000 Families Study (10kFS) was launched in 2017 to shed light on this Minnesota medical mystery. The study’s goal is to understand how environment, lifestyle and genetics influence the health of Minnesota families over a lifetime. 10KFS has a particular focus on Minnesota's large rural population, which faces unique challenges compared to urban dwellers.
“We are trying to understand why some families get sick and some don’t. Is it environmental exposure? Genetics? Our life choices?” says 10KFS Research Engagement Director Clemen Wilcox. “We’re giving participants really valuable health information and education as well. Lots of people don’t know about the potential risks of the things we’re studying.”
Associate Dean Trish Olson leads Extension’s Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing and is a co-investigator of the study. “Extension has access to populations through community partnerships and relationships that benefit this research,” she says.
With funding from the National Cancer Institute, 10KFS is studying whether three common exposures in Minnesota may be linked to an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma (blood cancers) in Minnesota and neighboring states: radon, PFAS “forever chemicals” and glyphosate.
Filling gaps in rural health research
Extension educator Kelly Kunkel serves on the 10,000 Families Study Community Advisory Board, along with 20 other community leaders, health advocates, researchers, staff members and residents with lived experience. The board serves as a vital link between the research team and the community.
“I want to bring that rural perspective in and advocate for folks in greater Minnesota,” says Kunkel. “It’s also personally meaningful to me because of my own experiences. My family is from Brown County, and all the women who stayed on the farm died prematurely due to cancer. Meanwhile, my grandma, who was in town, lived to be over 100. I’ve always wondered if there was an environmental link to life on the farm.”
“Minnesota is unique - we’re a high radon state and a big farming state, which means higher exposure risks for people living in rural areas,” says Olson. “Gathering this Minnesota-specific data will help us do our job better.”
What exposures are being studied?
Radon
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from the soil. The gas can accumulate in the home. Radon gas decomposes into fine particles that are radioactive. When inhaled, these fine particles can damage the lungs. Exposure to radon over a long period of time can lead to lung cancer.
PFAS
These are man-made chemicals used in many products for their water, grease and heat resistance. They are also named "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily in the environment and can build up in living things, posing risks to human health and the ecosystem.
Glyphosate
It is a widely used herbicide that controls broadleaf weeds and grasses. It could be a potential link to cancer in humans, as well as potentially causing the death of important insects, such as bees.
Join the 10K Family Study for a healthier Minnesota
We need your help to improve health for future generations. Every day, policy experts make decisions on how to improve public health and assign resources to meet those goals. These decisions should be based on high-quality data that represents all Minnesotans.
Get started today by completing the 10,000 Families Study Eligibility Survey.
Permission is granted to news media to republish our news articles with credit to University of Minnesota Extension. Images also may be republished. Check for specific photographer credits or limited use restrictions in the photo title.