| --- |
| license: cc-by-4.0 |
| task_categories: |
| - tabular-classification |
| language: |
| - en |
| tags: |
| - environmental-health |
| - asbestos |
| - mesothelioma |
| - occupational-health |
| - lung-cancer |
| - synthetic |
| - sub-saharan-africa |
| pretty_name: Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma (SSA) |
| size_categories: |
| - 10K<n<100K |
| configs: |
| - config_name: former_mining_community |
| data_files: data/asbestos_mining_community.csv |
| default: true |
| - config_name: urban_construction |
| data_files: data/asbestos_urban_construction.csv |
| - config_name: rural_asbestos_roofing |
| data_files: data/asbestos_rural_roofing.csv |
| data_type: synthetic |
| --- |
| |
| > ⚠️ **Synthetic dataset** — Parameterized from published SSA literature, not real observations. Not suitable for empirical analysis or policy inference. |
|
|
| # Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma in Sub-Saharan Africa |
|
|
| ## Abstract |
|
|
| Synthetic dataset modelling asbestos exposure pathways, fibre types, and health outcomes (mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer) across three settings in SSA. South Africa was a global leader in asbestos production; Wagner (1960) discovered the mesothelioma link there. WHO Africa reports asbestos use continues despite warnings, particularly in roofing, construction, and brake linings. Latency period is 20-50 years. |
|
|
| ### Scenarios |
|
|
| - **Former Mining Community**: South Africa-type communities near closed asbestos mines with high crocidolite/amosite exposure. |
| - **Urban Construction**: Cities with ongoing chrysotile use in building materials and demolition. |
| - **Rural Asbestos Roofing**: Widespread asbestos-cement roofing in rural areas with chronic low-level exposure. |
|
|
| ## Parameterization Evidence |
|
|
| | Parameter | Value | Source | Year | |
| | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
| | Asbestos causes mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer | Health effects | WHO Fact Sheet; IARC Group 1 | 2023 | |
| | SA global leader in asbestos production; ban in 2002 | History | ScienceDirect; asbestos.com | 2004 | |
| | Wagner (1960) discovered mesothelioma-asbestos link in SA | Discovery | PMC1522094 | 2005 | |
| | Asbestos use continues in Africa despite warnings | Ongoing use | WHO Africa | 2023 | |
| | Eastern SSA: substantial increases in asbestos lung cancer | GBD trend | PMC12573932 (GBD 2021) | 2024 | |
| | Mesothelioma mortality lower than expected in SA due to HIV | Co-morbidity | PubMed 21422006 | 2011 | |
| | Latency period 20-50 years | Disease natural history | WHO | 2023 | |
|
|
| ## Validation |
|
|
|  |
|
|
| ## Usage |
|
|
| ```python |
| from datasets import load_dataset |
| ds = load_dataset("electricsheepafrica/asbestos-mesothelioma", "former_mining_community") |
| ``` |
|
|
| ## Limitations |
|
|
| - Synthetic data; not for clinical decision-making. |
| - Latency modelling simplified; real exposure-disease relationships are complex. |
| - Does not capture legacy contamination mapping or remediation status. |
|
|
| ## References |
|
|
| 1. WHO. Asbestos Fact Sheet. 2023. |
| 2. WHO Africa. Asbestos use continues in Africa. 2023. |
| 3. PMC1522094. Asbestos-related disease in South Africa. 2005. |
| 4. Wagner JC. Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in SA. *Br J Ind Med*, 1960. |
| 5. PMC12573932. Global burden of lung cancer from occupational asbestos (GBD 2021). 2024. |
| 6. PubMed 21422006. Mesothelioma mortality trends in South Africa 1995-2007. 2011. |
|
|
| ## Citation |
|
|
| ```bibtex |
| @dataset{electricsheepafrica_asbestos_mesothelioma_2025, |
| title={Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma in Sub-Saharan Africa}, |
| author={Electric Sheep Africa}, |
| year={2025}, |
| publisher={HuggingFace}, |
| url={https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/asbestos-mesothelioma} |
| } |
| ``` |
|
|
| ## License |
|
|
| CC-BY-4.0 |
|
|
