When it comes to mesothelioma, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is an important thing to know about. The MSHA is an agency of the US Department of Labor that is responsible for administering the safety and health regulations that the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 set forth. This agency works to minimize the health hazards associated with mine work and improve the safety and health conditions of mines.

The reason there’s a connection between mesothelioma and the Mine Safety and Health Administration is that asbestos is a mineral naturally found within the soil, so it must be mined. And asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that has no cure. Mesothelioma can take many, many years after asbestos exposure to show symptoms in a victim, and once diagnosis is made, the person usually does not have much time. It attacks the lining of various body organs like the lungs, and it is often referred to as “asbestos cancer.”

Discovered by a first-century Greek geographer, the first known asbestos mine was located on the Greek island of Evvoia. Though that was a very long time ago, many still recognized that the slaves who mined the asbestos there suffered from lung ailments. Asbestos fibers are highly toxic to the body when they are swallowed or inhaled, as they get lodged in the outer lining of the stomach and lungs. The body is unable to safely break them down, so that can lead to cancerous cell formation — mesothelioma.

In the late 1970s, government intervention and regulation of asbestos use brought about change and made people aware of the dangers. Though asbestos continues to be used and mined all over the globe, today there are stringent guidelines in place that protect asbestos mine workers’ health and safety, along with the safety of mine workers who might be using equipment that utilizes mesothelioma-linked materials. Since 1977, the MSHA has had the responsibility of monitoring, regulating and enforcing mine safety regulations associated with asbestos exposure.

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