Metals and health

Cardiovascular disease

We collaborate with several population-based cohorts including Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (Prof. Gunnar Engström), SCAPIS (Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study, Prof. Göran Bergström) and VIPVIZA (Prof. Ulf Näslund and Senior researcher Maria Wennberg), where we investigate associations between exposure to lead and cadmium and the risk of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.

Kidney function

In the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort, SCAPIS cohort (Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study) and in kidney donors we investigate whether low-level lead and cadmium exposure in the general population is associated with kidney function, chronic kidney disease diagnoses and histopathological changes.

Bone

The impact of low-level cadmium exposure on bone in healthy kidney donors has been examined. In a cohort of elderly men (MrOS Sweden) the impact of cadmium on bone mineral density, fracture risk and bone structure has been studied, in collaboration with Dan Mellström and Mattias Lorentzon at Sahlgrenska Academy and the OEM department at Lund University (Thomas Lundh). We have also examined associations between blood cadmium and fracture risk in never-smokers in the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort.

Cognitive function and dementia

The impact of cadmium and lead exposure on cognitive function is being investigated in the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort as well as in Silver-MONICA using validated dementia cases as well as biomarkers.

Child health

We collaborate with researchers at the University of Valencia and the research Institute FISABIO (Senior researcher Sabrina Llop, among others), both in Spain, in studies related to exposure to arsenic and cadmium and health effects early in life in the mother-child cohort INMA.

Kidney donors

We have analyzed heavy metals (Cd, Hg, and Pb) in kidney, blood, and urine of living kidney donors. Apart from impact on kidney function, the impact of various sources of these metals have been studied, as well as the associations between concentrations of cadmium and mercury in kidney, blood, and urine. 

Biobank

We have set up a biobank for studies of diurnal variation and variability of different biomarkers (see section on Biomarkers). We study 23 different elements in collaboration with STAMI, Norway (Dag Ellingsen), and in another project, together with the department of Nutrition at Sahlgrenska Academy (Helena Filipsson Nyström), we have studied iodine. Studies of cobalt, lithium and nickel are ongoing. In addition, biobank samples are used to study 8OHdG levels in urine in collaboration with Marcus Cooke, University of South Florida.

Occupational studies

Battery industry

The occupational exposure to metals among workers in the emerging Swedish lithium-ion battery production and recycling facilities, is investigated in an ongoing research project. We focus on exposure to cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese. Exposure characterization includes airborne, dermal, and biologic sampling. Health effects on target organs are evaluated. 

For more information contact Florencia Harari (MD, Assoc. Prof.), Erik Rosengren (MD, PhD stud.), Sandra Johannesson (Occup. hyg, PhD).

The project is carried out in cooperation with IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet. 

More information

• Arbetsmiljö vid tillverkning av litiumjonbatterier
• Storskalig tillverkning och återvinning av litiumjonbatterier
• Undersökning av metaller på huden vid återvinning av litiumjonbatterier

In collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology, we participate also in a research project where we evaluate the toxicity of chemicals used during battery recycling. The project is financed by the Swedish Energy Agency. 

Welders and manganese exposure

An ongoing research project investigates how different welding methods affect the uptake and accumulation of manganese in the brain, as well as the impact on neuropsychological functions. The project is conducted in collaboration with Stockholm University (project leader Göran Lidén), the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and MR Physics at Örebro University Hospital, and CMIV (Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization) at Linköping University.