| 1. |
- Beelen, Rob, et al.
(författare)
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Development of NO2 and NOx land use regression models for estimating air pollution exposure in 36 study areas in Europe : the ESCAPE project
- 2013
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier. - 1352-2310 .- 1873-2844. ; 72, s. 10-23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estimating within-city variability in air pollution concentrations is important. Land use regression (LUR) models are able to explain such small-scale within-city variations. Transparency in LUR model development methods is important to facilitate comparison of methods between different studies. We therefore developed LUR models in a standardized way in 36 study areas in Europe for the ESCAPE (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects) project.Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were measured with Ogawa passive samplers at 40 or 80 sites in each of the 36 study areas. The spatial variation in each area was explained by LUR modeling. Centrally and locally available Geographic Information System (GIS) variables were used as potential predictors. A leave-one out cross-validation procedure was used to evaluate the model performance.There was substantial contrast in annual average NO2 and NOx concentrations within the study areas. The model explained variances (R2) of the LUR models ranged from 55% to 92% (median 82%) for NO2 and from 49% to 91% (median 78%) for NOx. For most areas the cross-validation R2 was less than 10% lower than the model R2. Small-scale traffic and population/household density were the most common predictors. The magnitude of the explained variance depended on the contrast in measured concentrations as well as availability of GIS predictors, especially traffic intensity data were important. In an additional evaluation, models in which local traffic intensity was not offered had 10% lower R2 compared to models in the same areas in which these variables were offered.Within the ESCAPE project it was possible to develop LUR models that explained a large fraction of the spatial variance in measured annual average NO2 and NOx concentrations. These LUR models are being used to estimate outdoor concentrations at the home addresses of participants in over 30 cohort studies.
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| 2. |
- Berglind, Niklas, et al.
(författare)
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Air Pollution Exposure : A Trigger for Myocardial Infarction?
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 7:4, s. 1486-1499
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The association between ambient air pollution exposure and hospitalization for cardiovascular events has been reported in several studies with conflicting results. A case-crossover design was used to investigate the effects of air pollution in 660 first-time myocardial infarction cases in Stockholm in 1993-1994, interviewed shortly after diagnosis using a standard protocol. Air pollution data came from central urban background monitors. No associations were observed between the risk for onset of myocardial infarction and two-hour or 24-hour air pollution exposure. No evidence of susceptible subgroups was found. This study provides no support that moderately elevated air pollution levels trigger first-time myocardial infarction.
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| 3. |
- Cyrys, Josef, et al.
(författare)
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Variation of NO2 and NOx concentrations between and within 36 European study areas : Results from the ESCAPE study
- 2012
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310 .- 1873-2844. ; 62, s. 374-390
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ESCAPE study (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects) investigates long-term effects of exposure to air pollution on human health in Europe. This paper documents the spatial variation of measured NO2 and NOx concentrations between and within 36 ESCAPE study areas across Europe.In all study areas NO2 and NOx were measured using standardized methods between October 2008 and April 2011. On average, 41 sites were selected per study area, including regional and urban background as well as street sites. The measurements were conducted in three different seasons, using Ogawa badges. Average concentrations for each site were calculated after adjustment for temporal variation using data obtained from a routine monitor background site.Substantial spatial variability was found in NO2 and NOx concentrations between and within study areas; 40% of the overall NO2 variance was attributable to the variability between study areas and 60% to variability within study areas. The corresponding values for NOx were 30% and 70%. The within-area spatial variability was mostly determined by differences between street and urban background concentrations. The street/urban background concentration ratio for NO2 varied between 1.09 and 3.16 across areas. The highest median concentrations were observed in Southern Europe, the lowest in Northern Europe.In conclusion, we found significant contrasts in annual average NO2 and NOx concentrations between and especially within 36 study areas across Europe. Epidemiological long-term studies should therefore consider different approaches for better characterization of the intra-urban contrasts, either by increasing of the number of monitors or by modelling.
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| 4. |
- de Hoogh, Kees, et al.
(författare)
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Comparing land use regression and dispersion modelling to assess residential exposure to ambient air pollution for epidemiological studies
- 2014
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Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 73, s. 382-392
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Land-use regression (LUR) and dispersion models (DM) are commonly used for estimating individual air pollution exposure in population studies. Few comparisons have however been made of the performance of these methods. Objectives: Within the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) we explored the differences between LUR and DM estimates for NO2, PM10 and PM2.5. Methods: The ESCAPE study developed LUR models for outdoor air pollution levels based on a harmonised monitoring campaign. In thirteen ESCAPE study areas we further applied dispersion models. We compared LUR and DM estimates at the residential addresses of participants in 13 cohorts for NO2; 7 for PM10 and 4 for PM2.5. Additionally, we compared the DM estimates with measured concentrations at the 20-40 ESCAPE monitoring sites in each area. Results: The median Pearson R (range) correlation coefficients between LUR and DM estimates for the annual average concentrations of NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 were 0.75 (0.19-0.89), 0.39 (0.23-0.66) and 0.29 (0.22-0.81) for 112,971 (13 study areas), 69,591 (7) and 28,519(4) addresses respectively. The median Pearson R correlation coefficients (range) between DM estimates and ESCAPE measurements were of 0.74(0.09-0.86) for NO2; 0.58 (0.36-0.88) for PM10 and 0.58 (0.39-0.66) for PM2.5. Conclusions: LUR and dispersion model estimates correlated on average well for NO2 but only moderately for PM10 and PM2.5, with large variability across areas. DM predicted a moderate to large proportion of the measured variation for NO2 but less for PM10 and PM2.5.
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| 5. |
- Eriksson, Charlotta, et al.
(författare)
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Residential traffic noise exposure assessment : application and evaluation of European Environmental Noise Directive maps
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1559-0631 .- 1559-064X. ; 23:5, s. 531-538
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Digital noise maps produced according to the European Environmental Noise Directive (END) could provide valuable exposure information in noise and health research. However, their usefulness in epidemiological studies has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to apply and evaluate Swedish END maps for assessments of residential traffic noise exposure. END maps from three Swedish cities were used to assess residential traffic noise exposure for a population sample of 2496 men and women included in a national Environmental Health Survey. For each subject, we assessed noise levels manually and automatically at three geographical points, using survey data to locate dwellings within buildings. Cohen's kappa coefficient (kappa) was used to assess agreement between the noise estimates. To evaluate the maps, we compared the observed and predicted proportions of annoyed residents as a function of noise exposure using survey data and already established exposure-response relationships. The root mean square deviation (r.m.s.) was used to assess the precision of observed estimates. The agreement between the noise estimates ranged from kappa = 0.4 to 0.8. Generally, there was a high correspondence between observed and predicted exposure-response relationships for noise annoyance, regardless of method and if data on dwelling location within building were used. The best precision was, however, found when we manually corrected the noise level according to the location of the dwelling within buildings (r.m.s. = 0.029). Noise maps based on the END appear useful for assessing residential traffic noise exposure, particularly if combined with survey data on dwelling location.
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| 6. |
- Eriksson, Charlotta, et al.
(författare)
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Traffic noise and cardiovascular health in Sweden : the roadside study
- 2012
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Ingår i: Noise & Health. - : Medknow. - 1463-1741 .- 1998-4030. ; 14:59, s. 140-147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long-term exposure to traffic noise has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, few studies have been performed in the general population and on railway noise. This study aimed to investigate the cardiovascular effects of living near noisy roads and railways. This cross-sectional study comprised 25,851 men and women, aged 18-80 years, who had resided in Sweden for at least 5 years. All subjects participated in a National Environmental Health Survey, performed in 2007, in which they reported on health, annoyance reactions and environmental factors. Questionnaire data on self-reported doctors diagnosis of hypertension and/or CVD were used as outcomes. Exposure was assessed as Traffic Load (millions of vehicle kilometres per year) within 500 m around each participants residential address. For a sub-population (n = 2498), we also assessed road traffic and railway noise in L den at the dwelling facade. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess Prevalence Odds Ratios (POR) and 95 Confidence Intervals (CI). No statistically significant associations were found between Traffic Load and self-reported hypertension or CVD. In the sub-population, there was no association between road traffic noise and the outcomes; however, an increased risk of CVD was suggested among subjects exposed to railway noise >= 50 dB(A); POR 1.55 (95 CI 1.00-2.40). Neither Traffic Load nor road traffic noise was, in this study, associated with self-reported cardiovascular outcomes. However, there was a borderline-significant association between railway noise and CVD. The lack of association for road traffic may be due to methodological limitations.
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| 7. |
- Hagenbjörk-Gustafsson, Annika, et al.
(författare)
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Determinants of personal exposure to some carcinogenic substances and nitrogen dioxide among the general population in five Swedish cities
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1559-0631 .- 1559-064X. ; 24:4, s. 437-443
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental levels of airborne carcinogenic and related substances are comparatively better known than individual exposure and its determinants. We report on a personal monitoring program involving five Swedish urban populations. The aim of the program was to investigate personal exposure to benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The measurements were performed among 40 inhabitants during seven consecutive days, in one urban area each year, during 2000-2008. The estimated population exposure levels were 1.95 mu g/m(3) for benzene, 0.56 mu g/m(3) for 1,3-butadiene, 19.4 mu g/m(3) for formaldehyde, and 14.1,mu g/m(3) for NO2. Statistical analysis using a mixed-effects model revealed that time spent in traffic and time outdoors contributed to benzene and 1,3- butadiene exposure. For benzene, refueling a car was an additional determinant influencing the exposure level. Smoking or environmental tobacco smoke were significant determinants of exposure to NO2, benzene, and 1, 3-butadiene. Those with a gas stove had higher NO2 exposure. Living in a single-family house increased the exposure to formaldehyde significantly. In a variance component model, the between-subject variance dominated for 1,3-butadiene and formaldehyde, whereas the between-city variance dominated for NO2. For benzene, the between-subject and between-cities variances were similar.
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| 8. |
- Hänninen, Otto, et al.
(författare)
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Seasonal patterns of outdoor PM infiltration into indoor environments: review and meta-analysis of available studies from different climatological zones in Europe
- 2011
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Ingår i: Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1873-9318 .- 1873-9326. ; 4:3-4, s. 221-233
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epidemiologists have observed higher risks for exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) in the summer than in other seasons. This increased risk may be partly due to seasonal behaviour and higher exposures to indoor PM in the summer in relation to outdoor pollutant levels during winter when windows are kept closed and less time is spent outdoors. In this report, we analyse data from six European studies, based on three different methods of estimating outdoor to indoor infiltration factors, with the aim of characterizing the geographical and seasonal patterns of PM infiltration. The highest infiltration levels were observed for the summer in both a European combined dataset consisting of 382 observations of the average PM2.5 infiltration factor for 1 day to 2weeks in regional data sets for Northern, Central and Southern Europe as well as for all ten cities individually. Th lowest values were observed for the winter, with spring and autumn displaying intermediate values. In all datasets and cities, the variability between residences and days within each season was much higher than the seasonal trend. PM10 data were available from two studies, revealing that the PM10 infiltration factors ranged from 70 to 92% of the corresponding PM2.5 values. Some differences between the studies may be associated with the study designs and applied methods of determining the infiltration factor. The ratio of summer to winter PM2.5 infiltration ranged from 1.3 in Rome to 2.3 in Helsinki, and the corresponding regional ratio ranged from 1.5 in Central Europe to 1.8 in Northern and Southern Europe. It is suggested that similar differences can be expected in epidemiological concentration–response relationships due to the modification in seasonal exposure associated with buildings and time spent indoors.
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| 9. |
- Nerhagen, Lena, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
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Air pollution and children’s health in Sweden : An enquiry into how the economic benefit of improvements in children’s health resulting from reductions in air pollution can be assessed
- 2013
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- lean air is one of 16 Environmental Objectives adopted by the Swedish parliament to guide action towards a sustainable environment. This project is part of the work undertaken by the Swedish Environment Protection Agency (Swedish EPA) to bring about the fulfilment of this goal. Much research has been undertaken regarding air pollution and health impacts in the adult population but much less is known about how pollutants influence children’s health. The overriding purpose of this study has therefore been to see how and to what extent the economic benefit from reducing these impacts can be calculated. To answer this question we provide a brief introduction on the method commonly used to do these kinds of benefit calculations. Two crucial inputs into these calculations are estimates of the health impacts and estimates of the economic values for the health impacts. We therefore start by providing a summary of the current stateof-art regarding these inputs which is based on a survey of the literature in each area. We then perform two case studies that describe how these economic benefits can be calculated and what influences the results. The calculation is based on the findings in the literature reviews and we also describe the exposure assessment that is another crucial input into these calculations. The report ends with suggestions for future research. Regarding air pollution and health impacts, the finding is that air pollution exposure has been associated with a number of health outcomes in children, many of these partly overlapping and related to respiratory effects. Both long-term exposure and short-term fluctuations have been correlated with adverse effects. However, the involved exposure variables are often not source specific, but may in some cases act as acceptable indicators of traffic related air pollution. Only for a limited number of health effects we have found exposure-response functions that may be used to quantify health effects in children. Most of these have been described also in a previous report (Naturvårdsverket, 2010). New for this report is an estimated exposure-response function for the development of air-way disease in the 5-18 age group. For the short-term effects such as hospital admissions, it is possible to calculate baseline frequencies needed for the impact assessments from register data. It is more complicated to estimate the baseline in terms of prevalence (occurrence of disease) or onset of disease, but some types of impacts can be estimated using combinations of data and assumptions. On the relationship between traffic pollution and restricted activity days (for example school absences), effects on pregnancy outcome and in infancy as well as effects of early exposure later in life there is limited information. As for the economic valuation of health impacts, the conclusion in the literature is that the valuation of children’s health risks is more challenging than that of adults. There are several reasons for this where children not being able to assess and value risk reductions by themselves is the most important one. There is however also the difference in age between children and adults which is likely to make a difference for the values. As in the case of the quantification of health impacts, little research has been done on the valuation of children’s health risks. Therefore, so far mainly proxies have been used such as willingness to pay estimates derived from parents’ choices and behaviour. The general conclusion is that economic values used for adults in general underestimate the benefits to children and that as high as two times these estimates can be relevant. Since almost no economic valuation studies of this kind have been undertaken in Sweden the estimates we propose are those used in other, mainly European, studies. Based on the findings in the literature surveys we have, as an example, calculated the benefit of a reduction in children’s exposure of 1 µg/m³ of NO2 in Stockholm and Umeå. The difference between the cities that we could account for was the number of children that are exposed. The calculation was done for two endpoints; that children having wheeze develop asthma and that asthmatic children are admitted to hospital due to respiratory symptoms. According to our calculations this reduction in exposure in Greater Stockholm would generate a benefit to society of 168 million SEK per year because of fewer cases of asthma, and 47 000 SEK due to fewer hospital admissions (for the price levels in 2000). For Umeå the benefits are smaller, 8 million SEK and 2000 SEK per year. These benefit estimates however are based on a quite large reduction in air pollution. 1 µg/m³ NO2 is approximately the reduction in population exposure that resulted in the inner city of Stockholm from the trial with congestion charges where traffic in this area decreased by 15%. To achieve the same reduction in Greater Stockholm or Umeå would require measures that result in quite important emission reductions from transport. To determine if such measures are beneficial from a socioeconomic point of view would require a comparison of benefits and costs on the local scale of the chosen measures. In general it is found in the literature that the benefits are larger when emissions are reduced in densely populated areas. We also discuss how different assumptions influence the results and the uncertainties related to these types of calculations. There are uncertainties in every part of the calculation chain; exposure, impact assessment and economic valuation. One way to account for these uncertainties is by doing a sensitivity analysis where alternative assumptions are used for important inputs. In our calculations an influential assumption is for example the probability that children with wheeze develop asthma later in life. The largest uncertainty however is probably the cause and effect of single pollutants. In this study NO2 is used since it is a good indicator of emissions from traffic but if this is the true cause of the effects is still a matter of research and discussion. This is the first attempt to calculate the benefits for children in Sweden of reducing air pollution. Due to lack of data we have only been able to give an indication of the size of the benefits and only for endpoints related to respiratory diseases. Therefore, further research is needed in order to determine the accuracy of these estimates, the size of the benefit for other endpoints and all children in Sweden and how the benefits vary between different geographical areas. However we consider such research to be warranted since our estimates suggests that reducing children’s exposure to air pollution result in important economic benefits and there is a need for policy makers to know if and when this is the case.
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| 10. |
- Rocklöv, Joacim, et al.
(författare)
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Susceptibility to mortality related to temperature and heat and cold wave duration in the population of Stockholm County, Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: Global Health Action. - : CoAction Publishing. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 7, s. 22737-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Ambient temperatures can cause an increase in mortality. A better understanding is needed of how health status and other factors modify the risk associated with high and low temperatures, to improve the basis of preventive measures. Differences in susceptibility to temperature and to heat and cold wave duration are relatively unexplored.OBJECTIVES: We studied the associations between mortality and temperature and heat and cold wave duration, stratified by age and individual and medical factors.METHODS: Deaths among all residents of Stockholm County between 1990 and 2002 were linked to discharge diagnosis data from hospital admissions, and associations were examined using the time stratified case-crossover design. Analyses were stratified by gender, age, pre-existing disease, country of origin, and municipality level wealth, and adjusted for potential confounding factors. Results : The effect on mortality by heat wave duration was higher for lower ages, in areas with lower wealth, for hospitalized patients younger than age 65. Odds were elevated among females younger than age 65, in groups with a previous hospital admission for mental disorders, and in persons with previous cardiovascular disease. Gradual increases in summer temperatures were associated with mortality in people older than 80 years, and with mortality in groups with a previous myocardial infarction and with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the population younger than 65 years. During winter, mortality was associated with a decrease in temperature particularly in men and with the duration of cold spells for the population older than 80. A history of hospitalization for myocardial infarction increased the odds associated with cold temperatures among the population older than 65. Previous mental disease or substance abuse increased the odds of death among the population younger than 65.CONCLUSION: To increase effectiveness, we suggest preventive efforts should not assume susceptible groups are the same for warm and cold days and heat and cold waves, respectively.
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| 11. |
- Wang, Meng, et al.
(författare)
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Performance of multi-city land use regression models for nitrogen dioxide and fine particles
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. - : Public Health Services, US Dept of Health and Human Services. - 0091-6765 .- 1552-9924. ; 122:8, s. 843-849
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Land use regression (LUR) models have been developed mostly to explain intraurban variations in air pollution based on often small local monitoring campaigns. Transferability of LUR models from city to city has been investigated, but little is known about the performance of models based on large numbers of monitoring sites covering a large area.OBJECTIVES: We aimed to develop European and regional LUR models and to examine their transferability to areas not used for model development.METHODS: We evaluated LUR models for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM; PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance) by combining standardized measurement data from 17 (PM) and 23 (NO2) ESCAPE (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects) study areas across 14 European countries for PM and NO2. Models were evaluated with cross-validation (CV) and hold-out validation (HV). We investigated the transferability of the models by successively excluding each study area from model building.RESULTS: The European model explained 56% of the concentration variability across all sites for NO2, 86% for PM2.5, and 70% for PM2.5 absorbance. The HV R2s were only slightly lower than the model R2 (NO2, 54%; PM2.5, 80%; PM2.5 absorbance, 70%). The European NO2, PM2.5, and PM2.5 absorbance models explained a median of 59%, 48%, and 70% of within-area variability in individual areas. The transferred models predicted a modest-to-large fraction of variability in areas that were excluded from model building (median R2: NO2, 59%; PM2.5, 42%; PM2.5 absorbance, 67%).CONCLUSIONS: Using a large data set from 23 European study areas, we were able to develop LUR models for NO2 and PM metrics that predicted measurements made at independent sites and areas reasonably well. This finding is useful for assessing exposure in health studies conducted in areas where no measurements were conducted.
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| 12. |
- Willers, Saskia M., et al.
(författare)
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Fine and coarse particulate air pollution in relation to respiratory health in Sweden
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 42:4, s. 924-934
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Health effects have repeatedly been associated with residential levels of air pollution. However, it is difficult to disentangle effects of long-term exposure to locally generated and long-range transported pollutants, as well as to exhaust emissions and wear particles from road traffic. We aimed to investigate effects of exposure to particulate matter fractions on respiratory health in the Swedish adult population, using an integrated assessment of sources at different geographical scales. The study was based on a nationwide environmental health survey performed in 2007, including 25 851 adults aged 18-80 years. Individual exposure to particulate matter at residential addresses was estimated by dispersion modelling of regional, urban and local sources. Associations between different size fractions or source categories and respiratory outcomes were analysed using multiple logistic regression, adjusting for individual and contextual confounding. Exposure to locally generated wear particles showed associations for blocked nose or hay fever, chest tightness or cough, and restricted activity days with odds ratios of 1.5-2 per 10-mu g.m(-3) increase. Associations were also seen for locally generated combustion particles, which disappeared following adjustment for exposure to wear particles. In conclusion, our data indicate that long-term exposure to locally generated road wear particles increases the risk of respiratory symptoms in adults.
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