| 1. |
- Fuks, Kateryna B., et al.
(författare)
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Arterial blood pressure and long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution : an analysis in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE)
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. - : National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). - 0091-6765 .- 1552-9924. ; 122:9, s. 896-905
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to air pollution is hypothesized to elevate arterial blood pressure (BP). The existing evidence is scarce and country-specific. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the cross-sectional association of long-term traffic-related air pollution with BP and prevalent hypertension in European populations. METHODS: Fifteen population-based cohorts, participating in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE), were analysed. Residential exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen oxides was modelled with land use regression using a uniform protocol. Traffic exposure was assessed with traffic indicator variables. We analysed systolic and diastolic BP in participants medicated and non-medicated with BP lowering medication (BPLM) separately, adjusting for personal and area-level risk factors and environmental noise. Prevalent hypertension was defined as ≥ 140 mmHg systolic, or ≥ 90 mmHg diastolic BP, or intake of BPLM. We combined cohort-specific results using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: In the main meta-analysis of 113,926 participants, traffic load on major roads within 100 m of the residence was associated with increased systolic and diastolic BP in non-medicated participants (0.35 mmHg [95% CI: 0.02-0.68] and 0.22 mmHg [95% CI: 0.04-0.40] per 4,000,000 vehicles × m/day, respectively). The estimated odds ratio for prevalent hypertension was 1.05 [95% CI: 0.99-1.11] per 4,000,000 vehicles × m/day. Modelled air pollutants and BP were not clearly associated. CONCLUSIONS: In this first comprehensive meta-analysis of European population-based cohorts we observed a weak positive association of high residential traffic exposure with BP in non-medicated participants, and an elevated OR for prevalent hypertension. The relationship of modelled air pollutants with BP was inconsistent.
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| 2. |
- Osterwalder, S., et al.
(författare)
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A dual-inlet, single detector relaxed eddy accumulation system for long-term measurement of mercury flux
- 2016
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1867-1381 .- 1867-8548. ; 9:2, s. 509-524
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The fate of anthropogenic emissions of mercury (Hg) to the atmosphere is influenced by the exchange of elemental Hg with the earth surface. This exchange holds the key to a better understanding of Hg cycling from local to global scales, which has been difficult to quantify. To advance research about land-atmosphere Hg interactions, we developed a dual-inlet, single detector relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) system. REA is an established technique for measuring turbulent fluxes of trace gases and aerosol particles in the atmospheric surface layer. Accurate determination of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) fluxes has proven difficult due to technical challenges presented by extremely small concentration differences (typically < 0.5 ngm(-3)) between updrafts and downdrafts. We present an advanced REA design that uses two inlets and two pairs of gold cartridges for continuous monitoring of GEM fluxes. This setup reduces the major uncertainty created by the sequential sampling in many previous designs. Additionally, the instrument is equipped with a GEM reference gas generator that monitors drift and recovery rates. These innovations facilitate continuous, autonomous measurement of GEM flux. To demonstrate the system performance, we present results from field campaigns in two contrasting environments: an urban setting with a heterogeneous fetch and a boreal peatland during snowmelt. The observed average emission rates were 15 and 3 n gm(-2) h(-1), respectively. We believe that this dual-inlet, single detector approach is a significant improvement of the REA system for ultra-trace gases and can help to advance our understanding of long-term land-atmosphere GEM exchange.
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| 3. |
- Pedersen, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Is There an Association Between Ambient Air Pollution and Bladder Cancer Incidence? Analysis of 15 European Cohorts
- 2018
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Ingår i: European Urology Focus. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-4569. ; 4:1, s. 113-120
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Ambient air pollution contains low concentrations of carcinogens implicated in the etiology of urinary bladder cancer (BC). Little is known about whether exposure to air pollution influences BC in the general population. Objective: To evaluate the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and BC incidence. Design, setting and participants: We obtained data from 15 population-based cohorts enrolled between 1985 and 2005 in eight European countries (N = 303 431; mean follow-up 14.1 yr). We estimated exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOx), particulate matter (PM) with diameter <10 mu m (PM10), <2.5 mu m (PM2.5). between 2.5 and 10 mu m (PM2.5-10). PM2.5 absorbance (soot), elemental constituents of PM, organic carbon, and traffic density at baseline home addresses using standardized land-use regression models from the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects project. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: We used Cox proportional-hazards models with adjustment for potential confounders for cohort-specific analyses and meta-analyses to estimate summary hazard ratios (HRS) for BC incidence. Results and limitations: During follow-up, 943 incident BC cases were diagnosed. In the meta-analysis, none of the exposures were associated with BC risk. The summary HRs associated with a 10-mu g/m(3) increase in NO2 and 51-mu g/m(3) increase in PM2.5 were 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-1.08) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.63-1.18), respectively. Limitations include the lack of information about lifetime exposure. Conclusions: There was no evidence of an association between exposure to outdoor air pollution levels at place of residence and risk of BC. Patient summary: We assessed the link between outdoor air pollution at place of residence and bladder cancer using the largest study population to date and extensive assessment of exposure and comprehensive data on personal risk factors such as smoking. We found no association between the levels of outdoor air pollution at place of residence and bladder cancer risk.
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| 4. |
- Raaschou-Nielsen, Ole, et al.
(författare)
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Air pollution and lung cancer incidence in 17 European cohorts : prospective analyses from the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE)
- 2013
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Ingår i: The Lancet Oncology. - 1470-2045 .- 1474-5488. ; 14:9, s. 813-822
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution is suspected to cause lung cancer. We aimed to assess the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and lung cancer incidence in European populations.METHODS: This prospective analysis of data obtained by the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects used data from 17 cohort studies based in nine European countries. Baseline addresses were geocoded and we assessed air pollution by land-use regression models for particulate matter (PM) with diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10), less than 2·5 μm (PM2·5), and between 2·5 and 10 μm (PMcoarse), soot (PM2·5absorbance), nitrogen oxides, and two traffic indicators. We used Cox regression models with adjustment for potential confounders for cohort-specific analyses and random effects models for meta-analyses.FINDINGS: The 312 944 cohort members contributed 4 013 131 person-years at risk. During follow-up (mean 12·8 years), 2095 incident lung cancer cases were diagnosed. The meta-analyses showed a statistically significant association between risk for lung cancer and PM10 (hazard ratio [HR] 1·22 [95% CI 1·03-1·45] per 10 μg/m(3)). For PM2·5 the HR was 1·18 (0·96-1·46) per 5 μg/m(3). The same increments of PM10 and PM2·5 were associated with HRs for adenocarcinomas of the lung of 1·51 (1·10-2·08) and 1·55 (1·05-2·29), respectively. An increase in road traffic of 4000 vehicle-km per day within 100 m of the residence was associated with an HR for lung cancer of 1·09 (0·99-1·21). The results showed no association between lung cancer and nitrogen oxides concentration (HR 1·01 [0·95-1·07] per 20 μg/m(3)) or traffic intensity on the nearest street (HR 1·00 [0·97-1·04] per 5000 vehicles per day).INTERPRETATION: Particulate matter air pollution contributes to lung cancer incidence in Europe.FUNDING: European Community's Seventh Framework Programme.
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| 5. |
- Steffen, A., et al.
(författare)
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A synthesis of atmospheric mercury depletion event chemistry in the atmosphere and snow
- 2008
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 8:6, s. 1445-1482
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It was discovered in 1995 that, during the spring time, unexpectedly low concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) occurred in the Arctic air. This was surprising for a pollutant known to have a long residence time in the atmosphere; however conditions appeared to exist in the Arctic that promoted this depletion of mercury (Hg). This phenomenon is termed atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) and its discovery has revolutionized our understanding of the cycling of Hg in Polar Regions while stimulating a significant amount of research to understand its impact to this fragile ecosystem. Shortly after the discovery was made in Canada, AMDEs were confirmed to occur throughout the Arctic, sub-Artic and Antarctic coasts. It is now known that, through a series of photochemically initiated reactions involving halogens, GEM is converted to a more reactive species and is subsequently associated to particles in the air and/or deposited to the polar environment. AMDEs are a means by which Hg is transferred from the atmosphere to the environment that was previously unknown. In this article we review Hg research taken place in Polar Regions pertaining to AMDEs, the methods used to collect Hg in different environmental media, research results of the current understanding of AMDEs from field, laboratory and modeling work, how Hg cycles around the environment after AMDEs, gaps in our current knowledge and the future impacts that AMDEs may have on polar environments. The research presented has shown that while considerable improvements in methodology to measure Hg have been made but the main limitation remains knowing the speciation of Hg in the various media. The processes that drive AMDEs and how they occur are discussed. As well, the role that the snow pack and the sea ice play in the cycling of Hg is presented. It has been found that deposition of Hg from AMDEs occurs at marine coasts and not far inland and that a fraction of the deposited Hg does not remain in the same form in the snow. Kinetic studies undertaken have demonstrated that bromine is the major oxidant depleting Hg in the atmosphere. Modeling results demonstrate that there is a significant deposition of Hg to Polar Regions as a result of AMDEs. Models have also shown that Hg is readily transported to the Arctic from source regions, at times during springtime when this environment is actively transforming Hg from the atmosphere to the snow and ice surfaces. The presence of significant amounts of methyl Hg in snow in the Arctic surrounding AMDEs is important because this species is the link between the environment and impacts to wildlife and humans. Further, much work on methylation and demethylation processes has occurred but these processes are not yet fully understood. Recent changes in the climate and sea ice cover in Polar Regions are likely to have strong effects on the cycling of Hg in this environment; however more research is needed to understand Hg processes in order to formulate meaningful predictions of these changes.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Nagel, Gabriele, et al.
(författare)
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Air pollution and incidence of cancers of the stomach and the upper aerodigestive tract in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE)
- 2018
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 143:7, s. 1632-1643
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Air pollution has been classified as carcinogenic to humans. However, to date little is known about the relevance for cancersof the stomach and upper aerodigestive tract (UADT). We investigated the association of long-term exposure to ambient airpollution with incidence of gastric and UADT cancer in 11 European cohorts. Air pollution exposure was assigned by land-useregression models for particulate matter (PM) below 10mm (PM10), below 2.5mm (PM2.5), between 2.5 and 10mm (PMcoarse),PM2.5absorbance and nitrogen oxides (NO2and NOX) as well as approximated by traffic indicators. Cox regression modelswith adjustment for potential confounders were used for cohort-specific analyses. Combined estimates were determined withrandom effects meta-analyses. During average follow-up of 14.1 years of 305,551 individuals, 744 incident cases of gastriccancer and 933 of UADT cancer occurred. The hazard ratio for an increase of 5mg/m3of PM2.5was 1.38 (95% CI 0.99; 1.92)for gastric and 1.05 (95% CI 0.62; 1.77) for UADT cancers. No associations were found for any of the other exposures consid-ered. Adjustment for additional confounders and restriction to study participants with stable addresses did not influencemarkedly the effect estimate for PM2.5and gastric cancer. Higher estimated risks of gastric cancer associated with PM2.5wasfound in men (HR 1.98 [1.30; 3.01]) as compared to women (HR 0.85 [0.5; 1.45]). This large multicentre cohort study showsan association between long-term exposure to PM2.5and gastric cancer, but not UADT cancers, suggesting that air pollutionmay contribute to gastric cancer risk.
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| 8. |
- Osterwalder, S., et al.
(författare)
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Comparative study of elemental mercury flux measurement techniques over a Fennoscandian boreal peatland
- 2018
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 1352-2310 .- 1873-2844. ; 172, s. 16-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Quantitative estimates of the land-atmosphere exchange of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) are biased by the measurement technique employed, because no standard method or scale in space and time are agreed upon. Here we present concurrent GEM exchange measurements over a boreal peatland using a novel relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) system, a rectangular Teflon (R) dynamic flux chamber (DFC) and a DFC designed according to aerodynamic considerations (Aero-DFC). During four consecutive days the DFCs were placed alternately on two measurement plots in every cardinal direction around the REA sampling mast. Spatial heterogeneity in peat surface characteristics (0-34 cm) was identified by measuring total mercury in eight peat cores (57 +/- 8 ng g(-1), average SE), vascular plant coverage (32-52%), water table level (4.5-14.1 cm) and dissolved gaseous elemental mercury concentrations (28-51 pg L-1) in the peat water. The GEM fluxes measured by the DFCs showed a distinct diel pattern, but no spatial difference in the average fluxes was detected (ANOVA, alpha = 0.05). Even though the correlation between the Teflon DFC and Aero-DFC was significant (r = 0.76, p < 0.05) the cumulative flux of the Aero-DFC was a factor of three larger. The average flux of the Aero-DFC (1.9 ng m(-2) h(-1)) and REA (2 ng m(-2) h(-1)) were in good agreement. The results indicate that the novel REA design is in agreement for cumulative flux estimates with the Aero-DFC, which incorporates the effect of atmospheric turbulence. The comparison was performed over a fetch with spatially rather homogenous GEM flux dynamics under fairly consistent weather conditions, minimizing the effect of weather influence on the data from the three measurement systems. However, in complex biomes with heterogeneous surface characteristics where there can be large spatial variability in GEM gas exchange, the small footprint of chambers ( < 0.2 m(2)) makes for large coefficients of variation. Thus many chamber measurement replications are needed to establish a credible biome GEM flux estimate, even for a single point in time. Dynamic flux chambers will, however, be able to resolve systematic differences between small scale features, such as experimentally manipulated plots or small scale spatial heterogeneity.
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| 9. |
- Raaschou-Nielsen, Ole, et al.
(författare)
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Outdoor air pollution and risk for kidney parenchyma cancer in 14 European cohorts
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 140:7, s. 1528-1537
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several studies have indicated weakly increased risk for kidney cancer among occupational groups exposed to gasoline vapors, engine exhaust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other air pollutants, although not consistently. It was the aim to investigate possible associations between outdoor air pollution at the residence and the incidence of kidney parenchyma cancer in the general population. We used data from 14 European cohorts from the ESCAPE study. We geocoded and assessed air pollution concentrations at baseline addresses by land-use regression models for particulate matter (PM10 , PM2.5 , PMcoarse , PM2.5 absorbance (soot)) and nitrogen oxides (NO2 , NOx ), and collected data on traffic. We used Cox regression models with adjustment for potential confounders for cohort-specific analyses and random effects models for meta-analyses to calculate summary hazard ratios (HRs). The 289,002 cohort members contributed 4,111,908 person-years at risk. During follow-up (mean 14.2 years) 697 incident cancers of the kidney parenchyma were diagnosed. The meta-analyses showed higher HRs in association with higher PM concentration, e.g. HR=1.57 (95%CI: 0.81-3.01) per 5μg/m(3) PM2.5 and HR=1.36 (95%CI: 0.84-2.19) per 10(-5) m(-1) PM2.5 absorbance, albeit never statistically significant. The HRs in association with nitrogen oxides and traffic density on the nearest street were slightly above one. Sensitivity analyses among participants who did not change residence during follow-up showed stronger associations, but none were statistically significant. This study provides suggestive evidence that exposure to outdoor PM at the residence may be associated with higher risk for kidney parenchyma cancer; the results should be interpreted cautiously as associations may be due to chance.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Wangberg, I, et al.
(författare)
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Atmospheric mercury near a chlor-alkali plant in Sweden
- 2003
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - 1879-1026. ; 304:1-3, s. 29-41
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Atmospheric mercury species/fractions were measured near a chlor-alkali plant in Sweden during August 28 to September 4, 2001. The concentration of total gaseous mercury in the plume from the plant was measured using TEKRAN and GARDIS instruments. Gaseous elemental mercury was measured using a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technique. From vertical LIDAR sweeps through the plume from the chlor-alkali plant mercury emission rates could be calculated. The concentrations of reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) in the plume and also inside the cell house were measured using annular KCl coated denuders. The RGM emission constitutes 0.5-1.0% of the total mercury emitted from the plant. The mercury concentration adsorbed on particles was measured as well as the mercury flux from soil. The data presented also include an intercomparison showing an excellent agreement between TEKRAN/GARDIS and LIDAR gaseous mercury measurements. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 12. |
- Andersen, Zorana J., et al.
(författare)
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Long-term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Incidence of Brain Tumor : the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE)
- 2018
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Ingår i: Neuro-Oncology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1522-8517 .- 1523-5866. ; 20:3, s. 420-432
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Epidemiological evidence on the association between ambient air pollution and brain tumor risk is sparse and inconsistent.Methods: In 12 cohorts from 6 European countries, individual estimates of annual mean air pollution levels at the baseline residence were estimated by standardized land-use regression models developed within the ESCAPE and TRANSPHORM projects: particulate matter (PM) ≤2.5, ≤10, and 2.5–10 μm in diameter (PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse), PM2.5 absorbance, nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOx) and elemental composition of PM. We estimated cohort-specific associations of air pollutant concentrations and traffic intensity with total, malignant, and nonmalignant brain tumor, in separate Cox regression models, adjusting for risk factors, and pooled cohort-specific estimates using random-effects meta-analyses.Results: Of 282194 subjects from 12 cohorts, 466 developed malignant brain tumors during 12 years of follow-up. Six of the cohorts also had data on nonmalignant brain tumor, where among 106786 subjects, 366 developed brain tumor: 176 nonmalignant and 190 malignant. We found a positive, statistically nonsignificant association between malignant brain tumor and PM2.5 absorbance (hazard ratio and 95% CI: 1.67; 0.89–3.14 per 10–5/m3), and weak positive or null associations with the other pollutants. Hazard ratio for PM2.5 absorbance (1.01; 0.38–2.71 per 10–5/m3) and all other pollutants were lower for nonmalignant than for malignant brain tumors.Conclusion: We found suggestive evidence of an association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 absorbance indicating traffic-related air pollution and malignant brain tumors, and no association with overall or nonmalignant brain tumors.
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| 13. |
- Andersson, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Air-sea exchange of volatile mercury in the North Atlantic Ocean
- 2011
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Ingår i: Marine Chemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0304-4203. ; 125:1-4, s. 1-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Part of the Beringia 2005 expedition covered the North Atlantic Ocean. During this passage, dissolved gaseous mercury (DGHg) in seawater and atmospheric concentrations of total gaseous mercury (TGHg), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O-3) were measured continuously at high resolution. In addition, meteorological parameters such as wind speed and water temperature were measured continuously by the ship's meteorological instrumentation. The DGHg concentration was measured using a continuous equilibrium system where the elemental mercury in the sea water was equilibrated with a stream of gas. The DGHg concentration was calculated using DGHg=Hg-eq/k(H), where Hg-eq is the concentration of elemental mercury in the equilibrated air and k(H), is the dimensionless Henry's law constant. The degree of saturation was determined directly from the measurements S = Hg-eq/TGHg. The water sampled had an average DGHg concentration of 58 +/- 10 fM and the average TGHg concentration was determined to 1.7 +/- 0.1 ng m(-3). The water sampled was under- and super-saturated with respect to elemental mercury covering a large range of saturation of 70 to 230% resulting in an average degree of saturation of 150 +/- 30%. Therefore, both evasion and deposition of elemental mercury were observed in the sampled water. In the light of the average flux, 2.1 +/- 1.8 pmol m(-2) h(-1), it is concluded that mostly evasion occured during the sampling period. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 14. |
- Bolmstrand, B, et al.
(författare)
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Vaginal reconstruction using a gluteal transposition flap after abdominoperineal excision for anorectal malignancy
- 2022
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Ingår i: Updates in surgery. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2038-3312 .- 2038-131X. ; 74:2, s. 467-478
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study is to present and evaluate a surgical method using gluteal flap for combined perineal and vaginal reconstruction after abdominoperineal excision (APE) with partial vaginectomy for anorectal malignancy. The method is a two-centre study of consecutive patients undergoing APE including partial vaginectomy for anorectal tumours, with immediate combined perineal and vaginal reconstruction using gluteal flaps. Follow-up data were retrieved via retrospective review of medical records, questionnaires and gynaecological examinations. Some 34 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. At the time of follow-up, 14 (78%) of the 18 patients alive responded to questionnaires. Seven (50%) of the survey responders agreed to undergo gynaecological examination. Major flap-specific complications (Clavien–Dindo > 2) were observed in 3 (9%) patients. Among survey responders, 11 (79%) had been sexually active preoperatively of which five (45%) resumed sexual activity postoperatively and three (27%) resumed vaginal intercourse. These three patients had all implemented an active vaginal health promotion strategy postoperatively. Perineo-vaginal reconstruction using gluteal flap after extended APE for anorectal malignancy is feasible. Although comparable to other methods of reconstruction, the rate of perineo-vaginal complications is high and post-operative sexual dysfunction is substantial. Postoperative strategies for vaginal health promotion may improve sexual function after vaginal reconstruction.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Feng, Xinbin, et al.
(författare)
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Modified on-line monitoring of total gaseous mercury in flue gases using a Semtech 2000 Analyzer
- 2000
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Ingår i: Fresenius Journal of Analytical Chemistry. - 0937-0633. ; 368:5, s. 528-533
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Semtech Hg 2000 analyzer continuously monitors the Hg0 content in flue gas. An on-line measurement method of total gaseous mercury in flue gas developed in our laboratory is described, which uses the absorption cell of the Semtech Hg Analyzer connected to a converter that is located in a furnace heated up to 650 °C. The converter can be heated up to 800 °C by both the furnace and an extra heating of a Ni-Cr alloy heating wire. Both the absorption cell and the converter are made of quartz. All gaseous Hg2+ species in flue gas are thermally reduced to Hg0 by the converter and detected by the Semtech Hg 2000 analyzer. The thermal reduction efficiencies of different conversion materials, which were filled in the converter, such as quartz chips, granular MgO, Ni and CoO powder, were tested using different flue gas conditions. Studies have shown that HCl is the major factor to inhibit the thermal reduction of Hg2+ to Hg0, and in the converter and the absorption cell Hg0 will react readily with HCl to form HgCl2. Both MgO and Ni could be used in the converter to absorb HCl in the flue gas, but Ni has better absorption efficiency. By using an original Semtech and a modified one, both Hg0 and total gaseous Hg contents in flue gas could be monitored simultaneously and continuously.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Hagenbjörk, Annika, et al.
(författare)
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The spatial variation of O3,NO,NO2and NOx and the relation between them in two Swedish cities
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0167-6369 .- 1573-2959. ; 189:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ozone and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are air pollutants with known associations to adverse health effects on humans. Few studies have simultaneously measured ozone and nitrogen oxides with high spatial resolution. The main aim of this paper was to assess the levels and variation of ground-level ozone, NO2 and NOx in two Swedish cities. An additional aim was to describe the levels of these pollutants within and between three different types of measurement sites (regional background, urban background and traffic sites) and within and between different measurement periods of the year. Three weekly sampling campaigns of NOx and ozone were conducted simultaneously at 20 sites in two Swedish regions using Ogawa badges. Ozone was measured at 20 additional sites in each area. The median ozone concentration for all measurements was statistically significantly higher in Malmö (67 μg/m3) compared to Umeå (56 μg/m3), and in both cities, ozone levels were highest in April. Measurement period was a more important factor for describing the variation in ozone concentrations than the type of measurement site. The levels of NO2 and NOx were statistically significantly higher in the Malmö area (8.1 and 12 μg/m3) compared to the Umeå area (4.5 and 8.9 μg/m3). The levels were generally highest at the sites categorized as traffic, while the variability between different seasons was sparse.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Mogensen, Ida, et al.
(författare)
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Simultaneously elevated exhaled nitric oxide and serum-eosinophil cationic protein relate to recent asthma events in asthmatics in a cross-sectional population-based study.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0954-7894 .- 1365-2222. ; 46:12, s. 1540-1548
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: We have reported that increased fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a measure of TH2 -driven airway inflammation, and blood eosinophil count, a marker of systemic eosinophil inflammation, correlated with asthma attacks in a population-based study.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between simultaneously elevated FeNO and serum eosinophil cationic protein (S-ECP) levels and asthma events among asthmatics.METHODS: Measurements of FeNO (elevated ≥ 25 ppb) and S-ECP (elevated ≥ 20 ng/mL) were performed in 339 adult asthmatics. Asthma events (attacks and symptoms) were self-reported.RESULTS: Simultaneously normal S-ECP and FeNO levels were found in 48% of the subjects. Subjects with simultaneously elevated S-ECP and FeNO (13% of the population) had a higher prevalence of asthma attacks in the preceding 3 months than subjects with normal S-ECP and FeNO (51% vs. 25%, P = 0.001). This was not found for subjects with singly elevated S-ECP (P = 0.14) or FeNO (P = 0.34) levels. Elevated S-ECP and FeNO levels were independently associated with asthma attacks in the preceding 3 months after adjusting for potential confounders (OR (95% CI) 4.2 (2.0-8.8).CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneously elevated FeNO and S-ECP levels were related to a higher likelihood of asthma attacks in the preceding 3 months. This indicates that there is a value in measuring both FeNO and systemic eosinophilic inflammation in patients with asthma to identify individuals at high risk of exacerbations.CLINICAL RELEVANCE: FeNO and S-ECP are markers for inflammation in asthma, but are dependent on different inflammatory pathways and weakly correlated. Simultaneous measurements of both offer better risk characterization of adult asthmatics.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Osterwalder, S., et al.
(författare)
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Critical Observations of Gaseous Elemental Mercury Air-Sea Exchange
- 2021
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Ingår i: Global Biogeochemical Cycles. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0886-6236 .- 1944-9224. ; 35:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Air-sea exchange of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg-0) is not well constrained, even though it is a major component of the global Hg cycle. Lack of Hg-0 flux measurements to validate parameterizations of the Hg-0 transfer velocity contributes to this uncertainty. We measured the Hg-0 flux on the Baltic Sea coast using micrometeorological methods (gradient-based and relaxed eddy accumulation [REA]) and also simulated the flux with a gas exchange model. The coastal waters were typically supersaturated with Hg-0 (mean +/- 1 sigma = 13.5 +/- 3.5 ng m(-3); ca. 10% of total Hg) compared to the atmosphere (1.3 +/- 0.2 ng m(-3)). The Hg-0 flux calculated using the gas exchange model ranged from 0.1-1.3 ng m(-2) h(-1) (10th and 90th percentile) over the course of the campaign (May 10-June 20, 2017) and showed a distinct diel fluctuation. The mean coastal Hg-0 fluxes determined with the two gradient-based approaches and REA were 0.3, 0.5, and 0.6 ng m(-2) h(-1), respectively. In contrast, the mean open sea Hg-0 flux measured with REA was larger (6.3 ng m(-2) h(-1)). The open sea Hg-0 flux indicated a stronger wind speed dependence for the Hg-0 transfer velocity compared to commonly used parameterizations. Although based on a limited data set, we suggest that the wind speed dependence of the Hg-0 transfer velocity is more consistent with gases that have less water solubility than CO2 (e.g., O-2). These pioneering flux measurements using micrometeorological techniques show that more such measurements would improve our understanding of air-sea Hg exchange.
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| 28. |
- Wang, Juan, et al.
(författare)
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Dampness, mould, onset and remission of adult respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis
- 2019
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 53:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Study question: Is dampness and indoor mould associated with onset and remission of respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis among adults? Materials and methods: Associations between dampness, mould and mould odour at home and at work and respiratory health were investigated in a cohort of 11 506 adults from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia. They answered a questionnaire at baseline and 10 years later, with questions on respiratory health, home and work environment. Results: Baseline water damage, floor dampness, mould and mould odour at home were associated with onset of respiratory symptoms and asthma (OR 1.23-2.24). Dampness at home during follow-up was associated with onset of respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis (OR 1.21-1.52). Dampness at work during follow-up was associated with onset of respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis (OR 1.31-1.50). Combined dampness at home and at work increased the risk of onset of respiratory symptoms and rhinitis. Dampness and mould at home and at work decreased remission of respiratory symptoms and rhinitis. The answer to the question: Dampness and mould at home and at work can increase onset of respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis, and decrease remission.
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- Wängberg, I, et al.
(författare)
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Emissions, dispersion and human exposure of mercury from a Swedish chlor-alkali plant
- 2005
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310. ; 39:39, s. 7451-7458
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mercury in air near a mercury cell chlor-alkali plant in Sweden has been measured within the EU-project EMECAP. Based on the measurements and modelling the annual distributions of GEM and RGM have been calculated for the local area around the plant. The average concentration of GEM in residential areas near the plant was found to be 1-3.5 ng m(-3) higher in comparison to the background concentration in this part of Sweden. The emission of RGM (0.55 kg year(-1)) results in elevated RGM concentrations close to the plant. The greatest impact on the local area is due to wet deposition of RGM. However, only a small fraction (0.4%) of all mercury being emitted was found to be deposited in the local area. No impact on urinary mercury could be demonstrated in the population living close to the plant. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 31. |
- Zhang, LT, et al.
(författare)
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Human skin specific long noncoding RNA HOXC13-AS regulates epidermal differentiation by interfering with Golgi-ER retrograde transport
- 2023
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Ingår i: Cell death and differentiation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-5403 .- 1350-9047. ; 30:5, s. 1334-1348
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- After a skin injury, keratinocytes switch from a state of homeostasis to one of regeneration leading to the reconstruction of the epidermal barrier. The regulatory mechanism of gene expression underpinning this key switch during human skin wound healing is enigmatic. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) constitute a new horizon in the understanding of the regulatory programs encoded in the mammalian genome. By comparing the transcriptome of an acute human wound and skin from the same donor as well as keratinocytes isolated from these paired tissue samples, we generated a list of lncRNAs showing changed expression in keratinocytes during wound repair. Our study focused onHOXC13-AS, a recently evolved human lncRNA specifically expressed in epidermal keratinocytes, and we found that its expression was temporally downregulated during wound healing. In line with its enrichment in suprabasal keratinocytes,HOXC13-ASwas found to be increasingly expressed during keratinocyte differentiation, but its expression was reduced by EGFR signaling. AfterHOXC13-ASknockdown or overexpression in human primary keratinocytes undergoing differentiation induced by cell suspension or calcium treatment and in organotypic epidermis, we found thatHOXC13-ASpromoted keratinocyte differentiation. Moreover, RNA pull-down assays followed by mass spectrometry and RNA immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that mechanisticallyHOXC13-ASsequestered the coat complex subunit alpha (COPA) protein and interfered with Golgi-to-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) molecular transport, resulting in ER stress and enhanced keratinocyte differentiation. In summary, we identifiedHOXC13-ASas a crucial regulator of human epidermal differentiation.
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