Malignant mesothelioma remains a critical occupational and environmental health concern, traditionally associated with industrial asbestos exposure. However, emerging evidence indicates significant under-recognized risks in agricultural settings, particularly in regions with historical asbestos usage such as Lombardy, Italy. This study develops a comprehensive investigative framework to assess asbestos-related mesothelioma incidence among rural agricultural populations. The framework integrates epidemiological surveillance, occupational exposure reconstruction, environmental assessment, and cohort-based risk modeling. Drawing upon established studies of agricultural health cohorts and mesothelioma surveillance systems, this research identifies hidden exposure pathways including contaminated agricultural materials, secondary environmental exposure, and non-traditional occupational settings. The proposed methodology emphasizes longitudinal cohort analysis and spatial clustering techniques to quantify incidence patterns. Findings indicate that mesothelioma risk in agricultural communities is systematically underestimated due to fragmented exposure histories and insufficient surveillance coverage. The study contributes a structured, replicable model for identifying and analyzing asbestos-related disease in rural contexts, offering critical implications for public health policy, occupational safety regulation, and preventive interventions.

Mesothelioma, Asbestos Exposure, Agricultural Health, Epidemiological Surveillance

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