The following section, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operations, provides an overview of the consolidated financial statements of Fujitsu Limited (the “Company”) and its consolidated subsidiaries (together, the “Group”) for the year ended March 31, 2008 (fiscal 2007). Forward-looking statements in this section are based on management’s understanding and best judgment as of March 31, 2008.

Annual Report 2008

Objectives: The chronic effects of urban air pollution are not well known. The authors’ aim was to investigate the association between the prevalence and new onset of chronic bronchitis and urban air pollution. Methods: Subjects from the general population randomly selected for the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS I) during 1991–93 in 21 centres in 10 countries were followed up from the years 2000 to 2002 (n = 3232 males and 3592 females; average response rate = 65.3%). PM 2.5 and elements, with the same equipment at centre level, and home outdoor NO 2 in 1634 individuals were measured. Hierarchical models were used. Results: The prevalence and new onset of chronic phlegm during follow up were 6.9% and 4.5%, respectively, 5.3% in males and 3.5% in females. Smoking, rhinitis, poor education, and low social class were associated with (prevalence and new onset of) chronic phlegm in both genders, and occupational exposures in males and traffic intensity (adjusted odds ratio for constant traffic, OR = 1.86; 95% CI 1.24 to 2.77) as well as home outdoor NO 2 (OR > 50 μg/m 3 v 3  =  2.71; 95% CI 1.03 to 7.16) among females. PM 2.5 and S content at centre level did not show any association with prevalence or new onset of chronic phlegm. Similar results were obtained with chronic productive cough. Conclusion: Individual markers of traffic at household level such as reported intensity and outdoor NO 2 were risk factors for chronic bronchitis among females.

Chronic Bronchitis and Urban Air Pollution in an International Study

Air quality guidelines for Europe ; Formaldehyde, WHO regional Publications

Background: Air pollution exposure is associated with hospital admissions and emergency room visits for cardiopulmonary disease and stroke. Iceland’s capital area, Reykjavik, has generally low air pollution levels, but traffic and natural sources contribute to pollution levels. The objective of this study was to investigate temporal associations between emergency hospital visits and air pollutants ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM10) in the Icelandic capital area. Methods: We constructed a time series of the daily number of adults who visited the emergency room, or were acutely admitted for stroke or cardiorespiratory causes to Landspitali University Hospital 1 January 2003 – 31 December 2009 from the hospital in-patient register. We used generalized additive models assuming Poisson distribution, to analyze the daily emergency hospital visits as a function of the pollutant levels, and adjusted for meteorological variables, day of week, and time trend with splines. Results: Daily emergency hospital visits increased 3.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-6.1%) per interquartile (IQR) change in average O3 the same and two previous days. For females, the increase was 7.8% (95% CI 3.6-12.1) for elderly (70+), the increase was 3.9% (95% CI 0.6-7.3%) per IQR increase of NO2. There were no associations with PM10. Conclusions: We found an increase in daily emergency hospital visits associated with O3, indicating that low-level exposure may trigger cardiopulmonary events or stroke.

/pdf/ozone-is-associated-with-cardiopulmonary-and-stroke-elz908sism.pdf

Ozone is associated with cardiopulmonary and stroke emergency hospital visits in Reykjavík, Iceland 2003-2009

This Ph.D. thesis explores the automobility of Icelandic novice drivers from a geographical point of view. Automobility, its system and its regime, has recently been subject to intense discussions among scientists in different fields, ranging from sociology to urban studies. The debates have focused on the importance of cars in current societies, gender issues related to car use, or simply the amount of space dedicated to cars in cities. This thesis will address in particular how young people enter the systemic regime of automobility and how this entry reflects how the system perpetuates itself. In terms of automobility, Iceland is an interesting case, as it is one of the countries in the world with one of the highest rates of car ownership per capita. Car use in Iceland is extensive and young people are not an exception. The high level of car use ties in with a previous planning decision: the transport system of the Capital area of Iceland has been shaped almost exclusively for and by cars. Yet, there are further reasons. In examining the case of Icelandic young drivers, this thesis explores current and potential theoretical ventures in automobility. It explores the social and cultural structuring upon which the local systemic regime of automobility in Iceland hinges. It first presents the results of a survey submitted to young drivers in Iceland and analyses their responses. The results of the survey show that young people in Iceland use cars extensively. Second, it explores in detail a particular activity – car cruising, or rúntur in Icelandic – which has particular cultural and social significance for young drivers in Iceland. By looking at the rúntur, the thesis also analyses how young peoples’ participation in car cruising allows individuals to integrate themselves in and cope with the systemic regime of automobility in Iceland, thus elucidating some of the cultural and social elements behind their high level of car ownership and use.

/pdf/automobility-of-novice-drivers-in-iceland-socialities-2o3emyowad.pdf

Automobility of Novice Drivers in Iceland: Socialities, Individuation and Spacings

Introduction: Ambient air pollution is associated with increase in morbidity from heart diseases. Air pollutant concentrations in the Reykjavik area are known to exceed official European health limits several times every year. Objectives: To evaluate the association between ambient air concentration of NO 2 , O 3 , PM 10 , and H 2 S in Iceland9s capital area Reykjavik and the dispensation of drugs for angina pectoris. Methods: Data on the daily dispensing of drugs for angina pectoris were obtained from The Icelandic Medicine Registry. Data on hourly concentrations of NO 2 , O 3 , PM 10 , and H 2 S were obtained from The City of Reykjavik, and The Environment Agency of Iceland. A case-crossover design was used and the study period was January 1st 2005 to December 31st 2009. Results: Exposure to air pollution was associated with the dispensing of drugs for cardiovascular disease (C01DA). For every 10 μg/m 3 increase of NO 2 concentration levels the dispensing of glyceril trinitrates (sub-group C01DA02) increased by 11.6% (at lag 0) and 7.1% (at lag 1). Similarly, an increae by 10 μg/m 3 of O 3 concentration was associated with 9.0% (at lag 0) and 7.2% (at lag 1) increase in glyceril trinitrate dispensations. Conclusion: The findings indicate that increased air pollution levels are associated with increased dispensation of glyceril trinitrate. We caution that this is the first study to examine the association between ambient air pollution and dispensation of drugs for angina pectoris, hence further evidence is needed for definite conclusions of this association. Drug dispensing may potentially be a sensitive indicator of health when estimating the effects of air pollution.

https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/6358/1/Air%20Pollution%20in%20Reykjavik%20and%20Dispensation%20of%20Drugs%20for%20Angina%20Pectoris_LOKAEINTAK.pdf

Ragnhildur Gudrun Finnbjornsdottir

Papers

Air pollution in Reykjavík and dispensation of drugs for angina pectoris