Health effects of air pollution & noise

SCAPIS

In the SCAPIS (Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study) cohort we are investigating if air pollution is associated with atherosclerosis and metabolic diseases in 30000 participants from six Swedish cities, PI Leo Stockfelt. Leo Stockfelt is also the coordinator of SCAPIS-environment, a nationwide group of researchers investigating other environmental health effects in SCAPIS. We are also collaborating with researchers from Karolinska Institutet investigating cardiometabolic health effects of environmental noise in the cohort (PI Petter Ljungman), and researchers working with health effects of access to greenness. In one project we are investigating socioeconomic differences in environmental exposures (PI Eva M Andersson). We are also investigating health effects of combined environmental exposures.

In SCAPIS-environment we have also generated exposure models of air pollutants and noise covering about half the Swedish population. If you are interested in using these in other projects you can apply for access to through the Karolinska Exposome database or contact us directly. Some data is also openly available at the Swedish National Dataservice.  

Other cohort studies & occupational particle exposure

We are in collaborations investigating cardiometabolic, renal and cognitive health effects of air pollution and other environmental factors in several population-based cohorts in Sweden.

We study renal and metabolic effects of occupational particle exposure in the Swedish Construction Worker Cohort and the UK biobank Cohort.

NORDSOUND & SOUNDMIND

Within the NORDFORSK-funded NORDSOUND-project we are collaborating with researchers in Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden to study the effect of noise exposure, when air pollution is taken into account. In the KI-led SOUNDMIND-project we are investigating effects of long-term noise on mental health and dementia.

Wood smoke

Several studies have been performed on personal exposure to wood smoke constituents, as well as indoor and ambient levels. We have performed controlled chamber studies of exposure to wood smoke in humans. Household air pollution in relation to tuberculosis or asthma development is studied in collaboration with University of KwaZulu Natal, in Durban (PI Rajen Naidoo).

VOC, POP and noise

We are also studying personal and indoor exposure to small particles, VOCs and their determinants. Several studies have been performed to test passive samplers for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and persistent organic pollutants (POP).

Health impact assessments and other

We have studied time trends of air pollutant and noise in both Gothenburg and Stockholm, and the impact of various measures to reduce noise in the environment. We are performing health impact assessments of air pollution in Sweden and South Africa, with a special focus on air pollution from shipping. Several research group members are collaborators in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD)-project, focusing especially on air pollution, noise and other environmental and occupational risk factors. .