| 1. |
- Lisberg Jensen, Ebba, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Growing inwards: Densification and ecosystem services in comprehensive plans from three municipalities in southern Sweden
- 2023
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - 2071-1050. ; 15:13, s. 1-14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article analyses how urban densification, primarily in relation to ecosystem services, is addressed in comprehensive plans from three cities in southernmost Sweden: Malmö, Lund and Helsingborg. The aim was to investigate and problematise how the comprehensive plans articulate and negotiate how to build dense cities while preserving and enhancing ecosystem services. A qualitative content analysis was performed on the comprehensive plans in use during the study period. The comprehensive plans were all ambitiously formulated. However, three recurrent issues were found. Planners struggled to address the issue of scale: Ecosystem services in the city were addressed when planning for densification, while ecosystem services for the city were either omitted or mentioned in the passing. The timeframe in relation to sustainable urban development was also not clarified. Most importantly, there were profound unclarities regarding priorities. Densification was suggested to provide all positive qualities simultaneously, including enhancing and supporting ecosystem services, which is, from a systems viewpoint, not possible. We suggest that when planning for sustainable cities, based on best available research, politicians should bring the prioritisation process to the fore, to clarify and address how to plan for dense, healthy cities with functioning ecosystem services in a more holistic manner.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Lisberg Jensen, Ebba, et al.
(författare)
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Through Internet and Friends : Translation of Air Pollution Research in Malmö Municipality, Sweden
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 17:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Air pollution is estimated to cause more than 7000 deaths annually in Sweden alone. To reduce the impact of air pollution and to plan and build sustainable cities, it is vital that research is translated into efficient decisions and practice. However, how do civil servants in a municipality access research results? How do they normally find relevant information, and what obstacles are there to accessing and applying research results? As part of the collaborative and transdisciplinary research project Air Pollution Research in Local Environmental Planning (ARIEL), these questions were explored through interviews and seminars with civil servants within the Malmö Municipality Environmental Office. We found that the civil servants generally have proficiency in processing research results, but often do not use such results as part of their everyday decision making and practices. Instead, the data and measurements used are mostly produced case-by-case within the municipal sector itself. Information about best practices is also collected via a number of knowledge access practices, involving the Internet or social networks within other municipalities. Lack of time, paywalls, and the insufficient applicability of research hinder the dissemination of up-to-date results. This slows down the process whereby research, funded by tax-money, can be put to best practice in the effort to create healthy and sustainable cities.
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| 4. |
- Malmqvist, Ebba, et al.
(författare)
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Estimated health benefits of exhaust free transport in the city of Malmö, Southern Sweden
- 2018
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Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 118, s. 78-85
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Luftföroreningar står för ett av åtta förtida dödsfall i världen, och utgör därmed ett stort hot mot människors hälsa. HIA (hälsokonsekvensbedömningar) av hypotetiska förändringar i luftföroreningshalter kan användas som ett sätt att bedöma hälsoeffekter, planer och projekt som beslutsfattare behöver för att förhindra sjukdom. Syftet med denna studie var att beräkna hälsoeffekter som kan tillskrivas hypotetisk nedgång i luftföroreningshalter i Malmö i södra Sverige om en policy med avgasfri innerstad skulle genomföras.
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| 5. |
- Abera, Asmamaw, et al.
(författare)
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Air pollution measurements and land-use regression in urban sub-saharan Africa using low-cost sensors—possibilities and pitfalls
- 2020
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Ingår i: Atmosphere. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4433. ; 11:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Air pollution is recognized as the most important environmental factor that adversely affects human and societal wellbeing. Due to rapid urbanization, air pollution levels are increasing in the Sub-Saharan region, but there is a shortage of air pollution monitoring. Hence, exposure data to use as a base for exposure modelling and health effect assessments is also lacking. In this study, low-cost sensors were used to assess PM2.5 (particulate matter) levels in the city of Adama, Ethiopia. The measurements were conducted during two separate 1-week periods. The measurements were used to develop a land-use regression (LUR) model. The developed LUR model explained 33.4% of the variance in the concentrations of PM2.5. Two predictor variables were included in the final model, of which both were related to emissions from traffic sources. Some concern regarding influential observations remained in the final model. Long-term PM2.5 and wind direction data were obtained from the city’s meteorological station, which should be used to validate the representativeness of our sensor measurements. The PM2.5 long-term data were however not reliable. Means of obtaining good reference data combined with longer sensor measurements would be a good way forward to develop a stronger LUR model which, together with improved knowledge, can be applied towards improving the quality of health. A health impact assessment, based on the mean level of PM2.5 (23 µg/m3), presented the attributable burden of disease and showed the importance of addressing causes of these high ambient levels in the area.
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| 6. |
- Abera, Asmamaw, et al.
(författare)
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Air Quality in Africa : Public Health Implications
- 2021
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Ingår i: Annual review of public health. - : Annual Reviews. - 0163-7525 .- 1545-2093. ; 42, s. 193-210
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This review highlights the importance of air quality in the African urban development process. We address connections between air pollution and (a) rapid urbanization, (b) social problems, (c) health impacts, (d) climate change, (e) policies, and ( f ) new innovations. We acknowledge that air pollution levels in Africa can be extremely high and a serious health threat. The toxic content of the pollution could relate to region-specific sources such as low standards for vehicles and fuels, cooking with solid fuels, and burning household waste. We implore the pursuit of interdisciplinary research to create new approaches with relevant stakeholders. Moreover, successful air pollution research must regard conflicts, tensions, and synergies inherent to development processes in African municipalities, regions, and countries. This includes global relationships regarding climate change, trade, urban planning, and transportation. Incorporating aspects of local political situations (e.g., democracy) can also enhance greater political accountability and awareness about air pollution. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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| 7. |
- Abera, Asmamaw, et al.
(författare)
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Measurements of nox and development of land use regression models in an east-African city
- 2021
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Ingår i: Atmosphere. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4433. ; 12:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Air pollution causes premature mortality and morbidity globally, but these adverse health effects occur over proportionately in low-and middle-income countries. Lack of both air pollution data and knowledge of its spatial distribution in African countries have been suggested to lead to an underestimation of health effects from air pollution. This study aims to measure nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), to develop Land Use Regression (LUR) models in the city of Adama, Ethiopia. NOx and NO2 was measured at over 40 sites during six days in both the wet and dry seasons. Throughout the city, measured mean levels of NOx and NO2 were 29.0 µg/m3 and 13.1 µg/m3, respectively. The developed LUR models explained 68% of the NOx variances and 75% of the NO2. Both models included similar geographical predictor variables (related to roads, industries, and transportation administration areas) as those included in prior LUR models. The models were validated by using leave-one-out cross-validation and tested for spatial autocorrelation and multicollinearity. The performance of the models was good, and they are feasible to use to predict variance in annual average NOx and NO2 concentrations. The models developed will be used in future epidemiological and health impact assessment studies. Such studies may potentially support mitigation action and improve public health.
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| 8. |
- Annika, Hagenbjörk-Gustafsson, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial variation of ground level ozone and the relation between ozone and NO2/NOx in two Swedish cities
- 2013
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Ozone is a pollutant known to cause adverse effects on human health. It is formed by reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hydrocarbons under the influence of sunlight. In urban areas ozone is consumed oxidating nitrogen oxide (NO) to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Despite the potential to cause adverse health effects, the local spatial distribution of ozone and the relationship between ozone, NO2 and NOx in different environments is poorly studied.Aims Our aim was to study the concentrations and spatial distribution of ozone in two cities, Malmö in the south of Sweden and Umeå in the north of Sweden, since the contribution of ozone from other parts of Europe decreases with higher latitude. We also wanted to investigate differences in the ozone/NO2 and the ozone/NOx ratios between the cities and between different environments.Methods Ozone, NO2 and NOx concentrations were measured with Ogawa diffusive samplers during three one-week campaigns in April, May/June and in August 2012. Measurements were conducted simultaneously at 20 sites in each city outside preschools, distributed at traffic sites, urban background sites and regional background (rural) sites. Results The average concentration of ozone in Malmö and Umeå were 67,5 µg/m3 and 50,6 µg/m3, respectively. The mean ozone/NOx ratio was of equal magnitude in Malmö and in Umeå, and in both cities the ratio was highest at rural sites and lowest at traffic sites. In Umeå there was a clear trend with highest ozone concentrations at rural sites and lowest concentrations at traffic sites, a trend that was not as obvious in Malmö. In Umeå the ozone/NO2 ratio at rural sites was about three times larger compared to Malmö.Conclusions There is a clear local variation of ozone, with stronger gradients in northern (Umeå) Sweden in comparison to southern Sweden (Malmö). This can partly be explained by less long-range transport of ozone and larger impact of local NO emissions that reduce ozone in northern Sweden.
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| 9. |
- Balidemaj, Festina, et al.
(författare)
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Indoor air pollution exposure of women in adama, ethiopia, and assessment of disease burden attributable to risk factor
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction and aim: Air pollution, a major environmental threat to human health, contributes to the premature deaths of millions of people worldwide. Cooking with solid fuels, such as charcoal and wood, in low-and middle-income countries generates very high emissions of particulate matter within and near the household as a result of their inefficient combustion. Women are especially exposed, as they often perform the cooking. The purpose of this study was to assess the burden of disease attributable to household air pollution exposure from cooking among women in Adama, Ethiopia. Methods: AirQ+ software (WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark) was used to assess the health impact of household air pollution by estimating the burden of disease (BoD) including Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), lung cancer, and stroke, among a cohort of women in Adama. Household air pollution exposure estimated by cooking fuel type was assessed through questionnaires. Results: Three-quarters (75%) of Adama’s population used solid fuel for cooking; with this, the household air pollution attributable mortality was estimated to be 50% (95% CI: 38–58%) due to ALRI, 50% (95% CI: 35–61%) due to COPD, 50% (95% CI: 27–58%) due to lung cancer, (95% CI: 23–48%) due to IHD, and (95% CI: 23–51%) due to stroke. The corresponding disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 women ranged between 6000 and 9000 per disease. Conclusions: This health impact assessment illustrates that household air pollution due to solid fuel use among women in Adama leads to premature death and a substantial quantity of DALYs. Therefore, decreasing or eliminating solid fuel use for cooking purposes could prevent deaths and improve quality of life.
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| 10. |
- Balidemaj, Festina, et al.
(författare)
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Prenatal Exposure to Locally Emitted Air Pollutants Is Associated with Birth Weight : An Administrative Cohort Study from Southern Sweden
- 2022
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Ingår i: Toxics. - : MDPI. - 2305-6304. ; 10:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution has been shown to be associated with reduced birth weight, there is substantial heterogeneity across studies, and few epidemiological studies have utilized source-specific exposure data. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the associations between local, source-specific exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy and birth weight. An administrative cohort comprising 40,245 singleton births from 2000 to 2009 in Scania, Sweden, was combined with data on relevant covariates. Investigated sources of PM2.5 included all local sources together as well as tailpipe exhaust, vehicle wear-and-tear, and small-scale residential heating separately. The relationships between these exposures, rep-resented as interquartile range (IQR) increases, and birth weight (continuous) and low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g) were analyzed in crude and adjusted models. Each local PM2.5 source investigated was associated with reduced birth weight; average decreases varied by source (12–34 g). Only small-scale residential heating was clearly associated with LBW (adjusted odds ratio: 1.14 (95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.26) per IQR increase). These results add to existing evidence that prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution disrupts fetal growth and suggest that PM2.5 from both vehicles and small-scale residential heating may reduce birth weight.
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