Showing papers by "Ole Raaschou-Nielsen published in 2011"

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Long-Term Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution: A Cohort Study

Abstract: Rationale: Short-term exposure to air pollution has been associated with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas the role of long-term exposures on the development of COPD is not yet fully understoodObjectives: We assessed the effect of exposure to traffic-related air pollution over 35 years on the incidence of COPD in a prospective cohort studyMethods: We followed 57,053 participants in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort in the Hospital Discharge Register for their first hospital admission for COPD between 1993 and 2006 We estimated the annual mean levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) at all residential addresses of the cohort participants since 1971 to an event or 2006 and used indicators of traffic near the residential address at recruitment We assessed the association between exposure to air pollution and COPD incidence by Cox regression analyses for the full cohort, and for participants with and without comorbid conditions, including ast

Road traffic noise and stroke: a prospective cohort study

Abstract: Epidemiological studies suggest that long-term exposure to road traffic noise increases the risk of cardiovascular dis- orders. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between exposure to road traffic noise and risk for stroke, which has not been studied before. Methods and results In a population-based cohort of 57 053 people, we identified 1881 cases of first-ever stroke in a national hospital register between 1993-1997 and 2006. Exposure to road traffic noise and air pollution during the same period was estimated for all cohort members from residential address history. Associations between exposure to road traffic noise and stroke incidence were analysed in a Cox regression model with stratification for gender and calen- dar-year and adjustment for air pollution and other potential confounders. We found an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.14 for stroke (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.25) per 10 dB higher level of road traffic noise (Lden). There was a statistically significant interaction with age (P , 0.001), with a strong association between road traffic noise and stroke among cases over 64.5 years (IRR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.13-1.43) and no association for those under 64.5 years (IRR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.91-1.14). Conclusion Exposure to residential road traffic noise was associated with a higher risk for stroke among people older than 64.5 years of age.

Lung cancer incidence and long-term exposure to air pollution from traffic.

Abstract: BackgroundPrevious studies have shown associations between air pollution and risk for lung cancer.ObjectiveWe investigated whether traffic and the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) at the resi...

Air pollution from traffic and cancer incidence: a Danish cohort study

Abstract: Vehicle engine exhaust includes ultrafine particles with a large surface area and containing absorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, transition metals and other substances. Ultrafine particles and soluble chemicals can be transported from the airways to other organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and brain. Our aim was to investigate whether air pollution from traffic is associated with risk for other cancers than lung cancer. We followed up 54,304 participants in the Danish Diet Cancer and Health cohort for 20 selected cancers in the Danish Cancer Registry, from enrolment in 1993-1997 until 2006, and traced their residential addresses from 1971 onwards in the Central Population Registry. We used modeled concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and amount of traffic at the residence as indicators of traffic-related air pollution and used Cox models to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) after adjustment for potential confounders. NOx at the residence was significantly associated with risks for cervical cancer (IRR, 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01;5.93, per 100 μg/m3 NOx) and brain cancer (IRR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.25;4.19, per 100 μg/m3 NOx). This hypothesis-generating study indicates that traffic-related air pollution might increase the risks for cervical and brain cancer, which should be tested in future studies.

Exposure to road traffic and railway noise and associations with blood pressure and self-reported hypertension: a cohort study

Abstract: Epidemiological studies suggest that long-term exposure to transport noise increases the risk for cardiovascular disorders. The effect of transport noise on blood pressure and hypertension is uncertain. In 1993-1997, 57,053 participants aged 50-64 year were enrolled in a population-based cohort study. At enrolment, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured. Incident hypertension during a mean follow-up of 5.3 years was assessed by questionnaire. Residential long-term road traffic noise (Lden) was estimated for 1- and 5-year periods preceding enrolment and preceding diagnosis of hypertension. Residential exposure to railway noise was estimated at enrolment. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of associations between road traffic and railway noise and blood pressure at enrolment with linear regression, adjusting for long-term air pollution, meteorology and potential lifestyle confounders (N = 44,083). Incident self-reported hypertension was analyzed with Cox regression, adjusting for long-term air pollution and potential lifestyle confounders. We found a 0.26 mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure (95% confidence intervals (CI): -0.11; 0.63) per 10 dB(A) increase in 1-year mean road traffic noise levels, with stronger associations in men (0.59 mm Hg (CI: 0.13; 1.05) per 10 dB(A)) and older participants (0.65 mm Hg (0.08; 1.22) per 10 dB(A)). Road traffic noise was not associated with diastolic blood pressure or hypertension. Exposure to railway noise above 60 dB was associated with 8% higher risk for hypertension (95% CI: -2%; 19%, P = 0.11). While exposure to road traffic noise was associated with systolic blood pressure in subgroups, we were not able to identify associations with hypertension.

Evaluation of AirGIS: a GIS-based air pollution and human exposure modelling system

Abstract: This study describes in brief the latest extensions of the Danish Geographic Information System (GIS)-based air pollution and human exposure modelling system (AirGIS), which has been developed in Denmark since 2001 and gives results of an evaluation with measured air pollution data. The system shows, in general, a good performance for both long-term averages (annual and monthly averages), short-term averages (hourly and daily) as well as when reproducing spatial variation in air pollution concentrations. Some shortcomings and future perspectives of the system are discussed too.

Determinants of Plasma PFOA and PFOS Levels Among 652 Danish Men

Abstract: Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are used in a variety of industrial and consumer products and have been detected worldwide in human blood. The sources for human exposure are not well described, but dietary intake is suggested as an important source. In this study of 652 Danish men from the Diet, Cancer and Health cohort, we examined intake of 10 major dietary groups, tap water drinks, alcohol consumption, cooking method, geographical area, age, smoking status, and BMI as potential determinants of PFOA and PFOS plasma levels. Living in the Aarhus area was associated with higher PFOA and PFOS plasma levels compared with living in the Copenhagen area, and never smokers had higher levels than current smokers. Frying as compared with other cooking methods was a determinant of PFOA and PFOS levels. BMI and alcohol consumption were inversely associated with both compounds. Among the dietary groups, only intake of eggs was significantly positively associated with PFOS plasma levels. In future studies, PFOA and PFOS levels in air, dust and water samples should be measured to elucidate further the sources of exposure; exposure through diet needs to be studied in greater detail. Our finding of a higher body burden of PFOA and PFOS among never smokers also warrants further evaluation.

A prospective study of organochlorines in adipose tissue and risk of non‑Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract: Background: Exposure to organochlorines has been examined as a potential risk factor for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with inconsistent results that may be related to limited statistical power or to...

Red meat, dietary nitrosamines and heme iron and risk of bladder cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)

Abstract: Background: Previous epidemiologic studies found inconsistent results for the association between red meat intake, nitrosamines [NDMA: N-nitrosodimethylamine, and ENOC (endogenous nitroso compounds)], and the risk of bladder cancer. We investigated the association between red meat consumption, dietary nitrosamines, and heme iron and the risk of bladder cancer among participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Methods: Data on food consumption and complete follow-up for cancer occurrence were available for a total of 481,419 participants, recruited in 10 European countries. Estimates of HRs were obtained by proportional hazard models, stratified by age at recruitment, gender, and study center and adjusted for total energy intake, smoking status, lifetime intensity of smoking, duration of smoking, educational level, and BMI. Results: After a mean follow-up of 8.7 years, 1,001 participants were diagnosed with bladder cancer. We found no overall association between intake of red meat (log(2) HR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.99-1.13), nitrosamines (log(2) HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.92-1.30 and HR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.92-1.05 for ENOC and NDMA, respectively) or heme iron (log(2) HR: 1.05; 95 CI: 0.99-1.12) and bladder cancer risk. The associations did not vary by sex, high-versus low-risk bladder cancers, smoking status, or occupation (high vs. low risk). Conclusions: Our findings do not support an effect of red meat intake, nitrosamines (endogenous or exogenous), or heme iron intake on bladder cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(3); 555-9. (C)2011 AACR.

Predictors of polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in adipose tissue in a general Danish population.

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitously present in the environment and suspected of carcinogenic, neurological, and immunological effects. Our purpose was to identify predictors of adipose tissue levels of mono-, di-, and tri-ortho-substituted PCBs experienced by a general population and to establish whether predictors vary according to substitution group. In this study of 245 randomly selected persons from a prospective Danish cohort of 57,053 persons, we examined geographical area, age, lactation, BMI, and intake of eight major dietary groups as potential determinants of adipose concentrations of mono-, di-, and tri-ortho-substituted PCBs by linear regression analyses. Lactation, BMI, and intake of fruit, vegetables, and dairy products showed negative associations with PCB concentrations in adipose tissue in all models, and living in Copenhagen city, age, and consumption of fish (particularly fatty fish) were positively associated. The associations between several of the predictors and mono-ortho-substituted PCBs tended to differ from the associations found for di- and tri-ortho-substituted PCBs. In conclusion, geography, age, lactation, BMI, and consumption of fatty fish consistently predicted the concentration of PCBs in adipose tissue. Our results indicate that predictors of PCBs varied according to substitution group, suggesting that ortho-substituted groups should be analyzed separately.

Consumption of meat and dairy and lymphoma risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

Abstract: The consumption of meat and other foods of animal origin is a risk factor for several types of cancer, but the results for lymphomas are inconclusive. Therefore, we examined these associations among 411,097 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. During a median follow-up of 8.5 years, 1,334 lymphomas (1,267 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 67 Hodgkin lymphomas) were identified. Consumption of red and processed meat, poultry, milk and dairy products was assessed by dietary questionnaires. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate the association of the consumption of these food groups with lymphoma risk. Overall, the consumption of foods of animal origin was not associated with an increased risk of NHLS or HL, but the associations with specific subgroups of NHL entities were noted. A high intake of processed meat was associated with an increased risk of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL) [relative risk (RR) per 50 g intake = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.63], but a decreased risk of follicular lymphomas (FL) (RR = 0.58; CI 0.38-0.89). A high intake of poultry was related to an increased risk of B-cell lymphomas (RR = 1.22; CI 1.05-1.42 per 10 g intake), FL (RR = 1.65; CI 1.18-2.32) and BCLL (RR = 1.54; CI 1.18-2.01) in the continuous models. In conclusion, no consistent associations between red and processed meat consumption and lymphoma risk were observed, but we found that the consumption of poultry was related to an increased risk of B-cell lymphomas. Chance is a plausible explanation of the observed associations, which need to be confirmed in further studies.

Occurrence of organochlorine pesticides in indoor dust

Abstract: Organochlorine pesticides are present in the environment and suspected of causing serious health effects. Diet has been the main exposure source, but indoor source release is gaining focus. Within a monitoring study of polychlorinated biphenyls of Danish buildings built during the 1960s and 1970s, we coincidently determined extreme levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) levels in two of ten random samples. This raises concern and further large scale investigations are warranted to confirm this.

Long-term exposure to air pollution and asthma hospitalizations in elderly adults: A cohort study

Abstract: Background: Exposure to air pollution in early life contributes to the burden of childhood asthma, but it is not clear whether lifetime exposure to air pollution can lead to asthma onset or progression in adulthood. We studied the effect of exposure to traffic-related air pollution over 35 years on the risk for hospitalization for asthma in elderly. Methods: We followed 57 053 participants in the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort, aged 50-65 years at baseline (1993-1997), for first hospital admission for asthma until 2006. Annual levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) were estimated at all residential addresses since 1971. We modelled the association between NO 2 and hospitalization for asthma using Cox regression in people with and without previous hospitalizations for asthma, and assessed effect modification by co-morbid conditions. Findings: During 9.9 years9 mean follow-up, 977 of 53 695 eligible people (1.9%) were admitted to hospital for asthma: 821 (1.5%) admissions were among 53 143 people who had not and 176 (31.9%) among 552 people who had been hospitalized for asthma before baseline. NO 2 levels were positively associated with risk for asthma hospitalization in the full cohort (hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval per inter-quartile range, 5.8 μg/m 3 : 1.12; 1.04-1.22), and in people without previous asthma hospitalization (1.10; 1.01-1.20), with the strongest effects for people with a history of asthma hospitalization (1.41; 1.15-2.07). Enhanced associations between NO 2 and admissions for asthma were observed for people with COPD (1.30; 1.07-1.52). Interpretation: Air pollution is a risk factor for progression and/or onset of asthma in late adulthood.

Occupation and risk of lymphoma: a multicentre prospective cohort study (EPIC)

Abstract: Objectives Evidence suggests that certain occupations and related exposures may increase the risk of malignant lymphoma. Farming, printing and paper industry, wood processing, meat handling and processing, welding, shoe and leather manufacturing and teaching profession are among the categories that have been implicated in previous studies. The relationship between occupation and malignant lymphoma has been investigated in a large European prospective study. Methods We investigated occupational risks for lymphomas in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). The mean follow-up time for 348555 subjects was 9 years (SD: 2 years). The analysis was based on 866 and 48 newly diagnosed cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL). These were identified in the EPIC subcohorts with occupational data. Data on 52 occupations were collected through standardised questionnaires. Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore the association between occupation and risk of malignant lymphoma. Results The following occupations were positively associated with malignant NHL after adjustment for study centre,age,sex,socioeconomicstatus(SES),smokingand alcohol:butchers(HR¼1.53,95%CI1.05to2.48,including multiple myeloma/plasmacytoma; HR¼1.30, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.66, excluding multiple myeloma/plasmacytoma) and car repair workers (HR¼1.50, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.00, including multiple myeloma/plasmacytoma; HR¼1.51, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.31, excluding multiple myeloma/ plasmacytoma). HL was associated with gasoline station occupation (HR¼4.59, 95% CI 1.08 to 19.6). Conclusion Thefindingsinthiscurrentstudyofahigherrisk of NHL among car repair workers and butchers and a higher risk of HL among gasoline station workers suggest a possible role from occupationally related exposures, such as solvents and zoonotic viruses, as risk factors for malignant lymphoma.

Cancer in first-degree relatives and risk of testicular cancer in Denmark

Abstract: Familial aggregation of testicular cancer has been reported consistently, but it is less clear if there is any association between risk of testicular cancer and other cancers in the family. We conducted a population based case-control study to examine the relationship between risk of testicular cancer and 22 different cancers in first-degree relatives. We included 3297 cases of testicular cancer notified to the Danish Cancer Registry between 1991 and 2003. 6594 matched controls were selected from the Danish Civil Registration System, which also provided the identity of 40,104 first-degree relatives of case and controls. Familial cancer was identified by linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry, and we used conditional logistic regression to analyse whether cancer among first-degree relatives was associated with higher risk of testicular cancer. Rate ratio (RR) for testicular cancer was 4.63 (95% CI: 2.41–8.87) when a father, 8.30(95% CI: 3.81–18.10) when a brother and 5.23 (95% CI: 1.35–20.26) when a son had testicular cancer compared with no familial testicular cancer. Results were similar when analyses were stratified by histologic subtypes of testicular cancer. Familial Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and oesophageal cancer were associated with testicular cancer; however these may be chance findings. The familial aggregation of testicular and possibly other cancers may be explained by shared genes and/or shared environmental factors, but the mutual importance of each of these is difficult to determine.

Road Traffic Noise and Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract: Epidemiological studies suggest that long-term exposure to road traffic noise increases the risk of cardiovascular dis- orders. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between exposure to road traffic noise and risk for stroke, which has not been studied before. Methods and results In a population-based cohort of 57 053 people, we identified 1881 cases of first-ever stroke in a national hospital register between 1993-1997 and 2006. Exposure to road traffic noise and air pollution during the same period was estimated for all cohort members from residential address history. Associations between exposure to road traffic noise and stroke incidence were analysed in a Cox regression model with stratification for gender and calen- dar-year and adjustment for air pollution and other potential confounders. We found an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.14 for stroke (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.25) per 10 dB higher level of road traffic noise (Lden). There was a statistically significant interaction with age (P , 0.001), with a strong association between road traffic noise and stroke among cases over 64.5 years (IRR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.13-1.43) and no association for those under 64.5 years (IRR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.91-1.14). Conclusion Exposure to residential road traffic noise was associated with a higher risk for stroke among people older than 64.5 years of age.

Air pollution from traffic and cancer incidence in a danish cohort

Abstract: Background and aims: Vehicle engine exhaust includes ultrafine particles with a large surface area and containing absorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, transition metals and other substances. ...

Association between serum cholesterol and plasma pfoa and pfos levels in a middle-aged danish population

Abstract: Background: Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are used in a variety of industrial and consumer products and have been detected worldwide in human blood. Recent studies ...

Acute coronary syndrome and long-term exposure to air pollution: a cohort study

Abstract: Background and Aim: Air pollution is one of the most important triggers of myocardial infarction.1 Long-term exposure was also linked to coronary heart disease including myocardial infarction, but ...