---
license: cc-by-4.0
task_categories:
  - tabular-classification
language:
  - en
tags:
  - environmental-health
  - noise-pollution
  - urban-health
  - hearing-loss
  - cardiovascular
  - synthetic
  - sub-saharan-africa
pretty_name: Noise Pollution & Urban Health (SSA)
size_categories:
  - 10K<n<100K
configs:
  - config_name: megacity_traffic
    data_files: data/noise_megacity.csv
    default: true
  - config_name: secondary_city_mixed
    data_files: data/noise_secondary_city.csv
  - config_name: periurban_emerging
    data_files: data/noise_periurban.csv
---

# Noise Pollution & Urban Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

## Abstract

Synthetic dataset modelling environmental noise exposure and health outcomes across three urban settings in SSA. WHO identifies noise as a major environmental health risk causing hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, sleep disturbance, and cognitive impairment. Most African cities exceed WHO guidelines (53 dB Lden, 45 dB Lnight) from traffic, generators, industry, and entertainment.

### Scenarios

- **Megacity Traffic**: Lagos/Nairobi-type megacity with mean Lden ~72 dB.
- **Secondary City Mixed**: Medium cities with generators, entertainment; Lden ~65 dB.
- **Peri-Urban Emerging**: Growing peri-urban areas; Lden ~58 dB.

## Parameterization Evidence

| Parameter | Value | Source | Year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noise causes CVD, mental health, sleep disturbance | Health effects | WHO | 2024 |
| WHO guidelines: 53 dB Lden, 45 dB Lnight | Standard | WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines | 2018 |
| Traffic noise quantified in South African cities | City data | Nature Scientific Reports | 2022 |
| Annoyance, stress, hearing loss from noise in Nigeria | SSA data | PMC11221953 | 2024 |
| Most developing countries lack noise legislation | Regulation gap | IntechOpen | 2022 |

## Validation

![Validation Report](validation_report.png)

## Usage

```python
from datasets import load_dataset
ds = load_dataset("electricsheepafrica/noise-pollution-urban-health", "megacity_traffic")
```

## Limitations

- Synthetic data; not for clinical decision-making.
- Noise levels modelled as normal distribution; real urban noise varies by time of day.
- Does not capture occupational noise exposure in detail.

## References

1. WHO. Environmental noise guidelines for the European Region. 2018.
2. WHO. Updated disability weights for environmental noise. 2024.
3. Nature Scientific Reports. Traffic noise in South African cities. 2022.
4. PMC11221953. Noise levels and health perceptions in Nigeria. 2024.
5. IntechOpen. Environmental noise management in developing countries. 2022.

## Citation

```bibtex
@dataset{electricsheepafrica_noise_pollution_urban_health_2025,
  title={Noise Pollution and Urban Health in Sub-Saharan Africa},
  author={Electric Sheep Africa},
  year={2025},
  publisher={HuggingFace},
  url={https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/noise-pollution-urban-health}
}
```

## License

CC-BY-4.0