Occupational noise exposure and maternal pregnancy complications: register-based cohort from urban areas in four Nordic countries.

Objective: To assess the role of occupational noise exposure on pregnancy complications in urban Nordic populations.

Methods: A study population covering five metropolitan areas in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden was generated using national birth registries linked with occupational and residential environmental exposures and sociodemographic variables. The data covered all pregnancies during 5-11 year periods in 2004‒2016, resulting in 373 184 pregnancies.

Associations Between Active Commuting and Sickness Absence in Finnish Public Sector Cohort of 28 485 Employees.

Active commuting can be beneficial for health. We examined whether active commuting by walking or cycling was associated with a lower risk of sickness absence in a Finnish public sector cohort of 28 485 employees. We used negative binomial regression to test associations of weekly active commuting in kilometers (no, low, moderate, and high dose) with all-cause sickness absence.

Corrigendum to "Residential exposure to transportation noise and risk of incident atrial fibrillation: a pooled study of 11 prospective Nordic cohorts" [The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, Volume 46, November 2024, 101091].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.

Long-term exposures to low concentrations of source-specific air pollution, road-traffic noise, and systemic inflammation and cardiovascular disease biomarkers.

Objectives: Air pollution and traffic noise are detrimental to cardiovascular health. However, the effects of different sources of these exposures on cardiovascular biomarkers remain unclear. We explored the associations of long-term exposure to source-specific air pollution (vehicular exhausts and residential woodsmoke) at low concentrations and road-traffic noise with systemic inflammation and cardiovascular disease biomarkers.

Association between air temperature and self-perceived health status in Southern Germany: Results from KORA FIT study.

Background: Short-term exposure to low and high air temperatures can cause serious harmful effects on human health. Existing literature has mostly focused on associations of ambient air temperature with mortality and the need for health care in population-level studies. Studies that have considered self-perceived health status as an outcome when examining the effects of air temperature on health are scarce.

Long-term exposure to transportation noise and obesity: A pooled analysis of eleven Nordic cohorts.

Background: Available evidence suggests a link between exposure to transportation noise and an increased risk of obesity. We aimed to assess exposure-response functions for long-term residential exposure to road traffic, railway and aircraft noise, and markers of obesity.

Methods: Our cross-sectional study is based on pooled data from 11 Nordic cohorts, including up to 162,639 individuals with either measured (69.

Health position paper and redox perspectives - Disease burden by transportation noise.

Transportation noise is a ubiquitous urban exposure. In 2018, the World Health Organization concluded that chronic exposure to road traffic noise is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. In contrast, they concluded that the quality of evidence for a link to other diseases was very low to moderate.

Association between active commuting and low-grade inflammation: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Prior studies suggest that physical activity lowers circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. However, little is known about the association between regular active commuting, i.e.

Changes in active commuting and changes in health: Within- and between-individual analyses among 16 881 Finnish public sector employees.

Background: Active commuting, such as walking or cycling to work, can be beneficial for health. However, because within-individual studies on the association between change in active commuting and change in health are scarce, the previous results may have been biased due to unmeasured confounding. Additionally, prior studies have often lacked information about commuting distance.

Increase in summertime ambient temperature is associated with decreased sick leave risk in Helsinki, Finland.

Objectives: Climate change has increased attention to the health effects of high ambient temperatures and heatwaves worldwide. Both cause-specific mortality and hospital admissions are studied widely, mainly concentrating on warmer climates, but studies focusing on more subtle health effects and cold climates lack. This study investigated the effect of summertime daily ambient temperatures and heatwaves on sick leaves in the employed population in Helsinki, Finland, a Nordic country with a relatively cold climate.

Exposure to long-term source-specific transportation noise and incident breast cancer: A pooled study of eight Nordic cohorts.

Background: Environmental noise is an important environmental exposure that can affect health. An association between transportation noise and breast cancer incidence has been suggested, although current evidence is limited. We investigated the pooled association between long-term exposure to transportation noise and breast cancer incidence.

Are active school transport and leisure-time physical activity associated with performance and wellbeing at secondary school? A population-based study.

Background: Physically active pupils may be better and more resilient learners. However, it is unclear whether walking or cycling to school yields similar educational and school-related mental health benefits as leisure-time physical activity. We examined the associations of active school transport and leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with perceived academic performance, competency in academic skills, school burnout and school enjoyment.

Burden of disease due to transportation noise in the Nordic countries.

Background: Environmental noise is of increasing concern for public health. Quantification of associated health impacts is important for regulation and preventive strategies.

Aim: To estimate the burden of disease (BoD) due to road traffic and railway noise in four Nordic countries and their capitals, in terms of DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years), using comparable input data across countries.

Associations between commute mode use and self-rated health and work ability among Finnish public sector employees.

Aim: To determine the extent to which level of active commute mode use is associated with self-rated health and work ability.

Methods: The data were sourced from the Finnish Public Sector Study survey in 2020 ( = 38,223). The associations between active commuting - assessed with the frequency of using active commute modes - and self-rated health and work ability were examined with negative binomial regression analyses.

Long-term exposure to traffic noise and risk of incident colon cancer: A pooled study of eleven Nordic cohorts.

Background Colon cancer incidence is rising globally, and factors pertaining to urbanization have been proposed involved in this development. Traffic noise may increase colon cancer risk by causing sleep disturbance and stress, thereby inducing known colon cancer risk-factors, e.g.

Long-Term Exposure to Transportation Noise and Ischemic Heart Disease: A Pooled Analysis of Nine Scandinavian Cohorts.

Background: Transportation noise may induce cardiovascular disease, but the public health implications are unclear.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess exposure-response relationships for different transportation noise sources and ischemic heart disease (IHD), including subtypes.

Methods: Pooled analyses were performed of nine cohorts from Denmark and Sweden, together including 132,801 subjects.

Associations of leisure-time physical activity and active school transport with mental health outcomes: A population-based study.

Promoting physical activity can improve population health. This study aimed to examine associations of leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and active school transport with mental health, that is, symptoms of depression and anxiety, among 15- to 16-year-old adolescents. We also assessed the relationships with less-studied outcomes, such as chronic stress and visits to school psychologist.

Short-term effects of ultrafine particles on heart rate variability: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

An increasing number of epidemiological studies have examined the association between ultrafine particles (UFP) and imbalanced autonomic control of the heart, a potential mechanism linking particulate matter air pollution to cardiovascular disease. This study systematically reviews and meta-analyzes studies on short-term effects of UFP on autonomic function, as assessed by heart rate variability (HRV). We searched PubMed and Web of Science for articles published until June 30, 2022.

Occupational noise exposure and risk of incident stroke: a pooled study of five Scandinavian cohorts.

Objectives: To investigate the association between occupational noise exposure and stroke incidence in a pooled study of five Scandinavian cohorts (NordSOUND).

Methods: We pooled and harmonised data from five Scandinavian cohorts resulting in 78 389 participants. We obtained job data from national registries or questionnaires and recoded these to match a job-exposure matrix developed in Sweden, which specified the annual average daily noise exposure in five exposure classes (L): <70, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, ≥85 dB(A).

Exposure-Response Functions for the Effects of Traffic Noise on Self-Reported Annoyance and Sleep Disturbance in Finland: Effect of Exposure Estimation Method.

Large variations in transportation noise tolerance have been reported between communities. In addition to population sensitivity, exposure-response functions (ERFs) for the effects of transportation noise depend on the exposure estimation method used. In the EU, the new CNOSSOS-EU method will change the estimations of exposure by changing the assignment of noise levels and populations to buildings.

Long-Term Exposure to Transportation Noise and Risk of Incident Stroke: A Pooled Study of Nine Scandinavian Cohorts.

Background: Transportation noise is increasingly acknowledged as a cardiovascular risk factor, but the evidence base for an association with stroke is sparse.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between transportation noise and stroke incidence in a large Scandinavian population.

Methods: We harmonized and pooled data from nine Scandinavian cohorts (seven Swedish, two Danish), totaling 135,951 participants.

Mortality risk related to heatwaves in Finland - Factors affecting vulnerability.

Background: Heatwaves are known to increase mortality. However, there is a need for more quantitative information on factors affecting sensitivity to the adverse health effects, particularly in countries with cool summer temperatures.

Objectives: We evaluated mortality risk related to heatwave days in Finland.