Showing papers by "Bertil Forsberg published in 2005"
TL;DR: It is concluded that special consideration should be given to studying and regulating coarse particles separately from fine particles, suggesting that coarse PM may lead to adverse responses in the lungs triggering processes leading to hospital admissions.
Abstract: Studies on health effects of airborne particulate matter (PM) have traditionally focused on particles ,10 mm in diameter (PM10) or particles ,2.5 mm in diameter (PM2.5). The coarse fraction of PM10, particles .2.5 mm, has only been studied recently. These particles have different sources and composition compared with PM2.5. This paper is based on a systematic review of studies that have analysed fine and coarse PM jointly and examines the epidemiological evidence for effects of coarse particles on health. Time series studies relating ambient PM to mortality have in some places provided evidence of an independent effect of coarse PM on daily mortality, but in most urban areas, the evidence is stronger for fine particles. The few long-term studies of effects of coarse PM on survival do not provide any evidence of association. In studies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and respiratory admissions, coarse PM has a stronger or as strong short-term effect as fine PM, suggesting that coarse PM may lead to adverse responses in the lungs triggering processes leading to hospital admissions. There is also support for an association between coarse PM and cardiovascular admissions. It is concluded that special consideration should be given to studying and regulating coarse particles separately from fine particles.
822 citations
TL;DR: Hay fever, a family history of asthma, allergic sensitisation and ex-smoking status, and increased body mass index was a significant risk factor for incident asthma independent of sex and allergic status.
Abstract: The annual incidence of asthma in adults in northern Sweden has been estimated at 2.3 per thousand population. Risk factors for incident asthma among adults were studied in a case-referent study based on incident cases of asthma during 1995-1999. The healthcare providers reported suspected cases of incident asthma. After clinical examination, 309 (65% female) of 473 reported subjects were included. Inclusion criteria were a history of incident asthma (onset or =30). The risk factor pattern was similar for females and males, and increased body mass index was a significant risk factor for both males and females, as well as for allergic and nonallergic subjects. In conclusion, in addition to hay fever, a family history of asthma, allergic sensitisation and ex-smoking status, increased body mass index was a significant risk factor for incident asthma independent of sex and allergic status.
232 citations
TL;DR: No single surrogate measure of PM redox activity could be identified and, because these novel measures are suggested to reflect crucial biologic mechanisms of PM, their use may be pertinent in epidemiologic studies.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Body mass, as well as distribution of body fat, are predictors of both diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In Northern Sweden, despite a marked increase in average body mass, prevalenc ...
196 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors made a review of the latest findings on air pollutants and health to facilitate assessments of the different air pollutants, and their health effects, and found that exposure to particulate matter (PM), despite the lower levels we face today, still poses a significant risk to human health.
Abstract: The ongoing program Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) is an initiative from the EU Commission to establish a coordinated effort to reach better air quality in the EU. The focus is on particulate matter as it has been shown to have large impact on human health. CAFE requested that WHO make a review of the latest findings on air pollutants and health to facilitate assessments of the different air pollutants and their health effects. The WHO review project on health aspects of air pollution in Europe confirmed that exposure to particulate matter (PM), despite the lower levels we face today, still poses a significant risk to human health. Using the recommended uniform risk coefficients for health impact assessment of PM, regardless of sources, premature mortality related to long-range transported anthropogenic particles has been estimated to be about 3500 deaths per year for the Swedish population, corresponding to a reduction in life expectancy of up to about seven months. The influence of local sources i...
173 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, Elemental Composition and Light Absorbance of Ambient Fine Particles at 21 European Locations was performed at three different locations in 21 European locations: London, Paris, and New York.
109 citations
TL;DR: The association between air pollution and mortality is not weakened by control for influenza epidemic irrespective of the method used, and adjustment for influenza by any method tested did not markedly alter the air pollution effect estimate.
Abstract: Short-term effects of air pollution on total and cardiovascular mortality : the confounding effect of influenza epidemics.
51 citations
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: Luftfororeningarnas externa kostnader as mentioned in this paper : forslag pa berakningsmetod for trafiken utifran granskning av ExternE-berakningar for Stockholm och Sverige
Abstract: Luftfororeningarnas externa kostnader : forslag pa berakningsmetod for trafiken utifran granskning av ExternE-berakningar for Stockholm och Sverige
14 citations
11 citations
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured the number of deaths attributed to air pollution in Sweden using estimated population exposure to nitrogen dioxide as an indicator, and used it as a predictor of lung cancer.
Abstract: Quantification of deaths attributed to air pollution in Sweden using estimated population exposure to nitrogen dioxide as indicator
3 citations
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: Denna enkatstudie utgor en del i Naturvardsverkets halsorelaterade miljoovervakning, ochsyftar till att beskriva hur manniskor upplever sin omgivningsmiljo med avseende pa framstluftkvalitet as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Denna enkatstudie utgor en del i Naturvardsverkets halsorelaterade miljoovervakning, ochsyftar till att beskriva hur manniskor upplever sin omgivningsmiljo med avseende pa framstluftkvalitet.Enkate ...
3 citations
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a method to calculate the external costs of air pollution from the Swedish transport sector using the methodology developed within the EU-funded ExternE-projects.
Abstract: In 2002 the external costs of air pollution from the Swedish transport sector were calculated using the methodology developed within the EU-funded ExternE-projects. A comparison of these estimates with those presently in use in Swedish transport analysis revealed important differences, especially for particulate matter. The main purpose of this project was to examine the calculations for Stockholm in the Swedish ExternE-study and based on the findings from this examination propose a method to be used for the cost calculation for pollutants with local impacts. In addition, the methods used for the cost calculation for pollutants with regional impact should be described. In the report, the results are presented in two parts. In the first part, the method we propose for the cost calculation for pollutants with local impact is presented. We suggest that the calculation is based on three components; exposure estimates, effects estimates and values. The product of these three gives the final cost. In this part of the report we also present the approaches currently used to calculate the cost for pollutants with a regional impact. In part two of the report we present in greater detail the findings from the examination of the calculations for Stockholm in the Swedish ExternE-study.
01 Jan 2005
Abstract: Det primara syftet med detta projekt har varit att insamla, digitalisera och sammanstalla historiska data for sot och svaveldioxid fran Goteborg, samt a ...