Publications
194 results found
Allen RJ, Wain LV, Shrine N, et al., 2015, Shared polygenic effects of FEV1 in the first genetic study in UK Biobank, Annual Meeting of the International-Genetic-Epidemiology-Society (IGES), Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL, Pages: 529-530, ISSN: 0741-0395
Halonen JI, Hansell AL, Gulliver J, et al., 2015, Road traffic noise is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and all-cause mortality in London, European Heart Journal, Vol: 36, Pages: 2653-2661, ISSN: 0195-668X
AimsRoad traffic noise has been associated with hypertension but evidence for the long-term effects on hospital admissions and mortality is limited. We examined the effects of long-term exposure to road traffic noise on hospital admissions and mortality in the general population.Methods and resultsThe study population consisted of 8.6 million inhabitants of London, one of Europe's largest cities. We assessed small-area-level associations of day- (7:00–22:59) and nighttime (23:00–06:59) road traffic noise with cardiovascular hospital admissions and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in all adults (≥25 years) and elderly (≥75 years) through Poisson regression models. We adjusted models for age, sex, area-level socioeconomic deprivation, ethnicity, smoking, air pollution, and neighbourhood spatial structure. Median daytime exposure to road traffic noise was 55.6 dB. Daytime road traffic noise increased the risk of hospital admission for stroke with relative risk (RR) 1.05 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.09] in adults, and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.04–1.14) in the elderly in areas >60 vs. <55 dB. Nighttime noise was associated with stroke admissions only among the elderly. Daytime noise was significantly associated with all-cause mortality in adults [RR 1.04 (95% CI: 1.00–1.07) in areas >60 vs. <55 dB]. Positive but non-significant associations were seen with mortality for cardiovascular and ischaemic heart disease, and stroke. Results were similar for the elderly.ConclusionsLong-term exposure to road traffic noise was associated with small increased risks of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the general population, particularly for stroke in the elderly.
Wain LV, Shrine N, Miller S, et al., 2015, Novel insights into the genetics of smoking behaviour, lung function, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (UK BiLEVE): a genetic association study in UK Biobank, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Vol: 3, Pages: 769-781, ISSN: 2213-2619
BackgroundUnderstanding the genetic basis of airflow obstruction and smoking behaviour is key to determining the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We used UK Biobank data to study the genetic causes of smoking behaviour and lung health.MethodsWe sampled individuals of European ancestry from UK Biobank, from the middle and extremes of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) distribution among heavy smokers (mean 35 pack-years) and never smokers. We developed a custom array for UK Biobank to provide optimum genome-wide coverage of common and low-frequency variants, dense coverage of genomic regions already implicated in lung health and disease, and to assay rare coding variants relevant to the UK population. We investigated whether there were shared genetic causes between different phenotypes defined by extremes of FEV1. We also looked for novel variants associated with extremes of FEV1 and smoking behaviour and assessed regions of the genome that had already shown evidence for a role in lung health and disease. We set genome-wide significance at p<5 × 10−8.FindingsUK Biobank participants were recruited from March 15, 2006, to July 7, 2010. Sample selection for the UK BiLEVE study started on Nov 22, 2012, and was completed on Dec 20, 2012. We selected 50 008 unique samples: 10 002 individuals with low FEV1, 10 000 with average FEV1, and 5002 with high FEV1 from each of the heavy smoker and never smoker groups. We noted a substantial sharing of genetic causes of low FEV1 between heavy smokers and never smokers (p=2·29 × 10−16) and between individuals with and without doctor-diagnosed asthma (p=6·06 × 10−11). We discovered six novel genome-wide significant signals of association with extremes of FEV1, including signals at four novel loci (KANSL1, TSEN54, TET2, and RBM19/TBX5) and independent signals at two previously reported loci (NPNT and HLA-DQB1/HLA-DQA2). These variants also show
Morley DW, de Hoogh K, Fecht D, et al., 2015, International scale implementation of the CNOSSOS-EU road traffic noise prediction model for epidemiological studies, Environmental Pollution, Vol: 206, Pages: 332-341, ISSN: 0269-7491
The EU-FP7-funded BioSHaRE project is using individual-level data pooled from several national cohort studies in Europe to investigate the relationship of road traffic noise and health. The detailed input data (land cover and traffic characteristics) required for noise exposure modelling are not always available over whole countries while data that are comparable in spatial resolution between different countries is needed for harmonised exposure assessment. Here, we assess the feasibility using the CNOSSOS-EU road traffic noise prediction model with coarser input data in terms of model performance. Starting with a model using the highest resolution datasets, we progressively introduced lower resolution data over five further model runs and compared noise level estimates to measurements. We conclude that a low resolution noise model should provide adequate performance for exposure ranking (Spearman's rank = 0.75; p < 0.001), but with relatively large errors in predicted noise levels (RMSE = 4.46 dB(A)).
Cai Y, Shaheen SO, Hardy R, et al., 2015, Birth weight, early childhood growth and lung function in middle to early old age: 1946 British birth cohort, Thorax, Vol: 71, Pages: 916-922, ISSN: 1468-3296
Background Findings from previous studies investigating the relationship between birth weight and adult lung function have been inconsistent, and data on birth weight and adult lung function decline are lacking. Few studies have investigated the relation between early childhood growth and adult lung function.Methods FEV1 and FVC were measured at ages 43 years, 53 years and 60–64 years in the 1946 British birth cohort study. Multiple linear regression models were fitted to study associations with birth weight and weight gain at age 0–2 years. Multilevel models assessed how associations changed with age, with FEV1 and FVC as repeated outcomes.Results 3276 and 3249 participants were included in FEV1 and FVC analyses, respectively. In women, there was a decreasing association between birth weight and FVC with age. From the multilevel model, for every 1 kg higher birth weight, FVC was higher on average by 66.3 mL (95% CI 0.5 to 132) at 43 years, but significance was lost at 53 years and 60–64 years. Similar associations were seen with FEV1, but linear change (decline) from age 43 years lost statistical significance after full adjustment. In men, associations with birth weight were null in multilevel models. Higher early life weight gain was associated with higher FEV1 at age 43 years in men and women combined but not in each sex.Conclusions Birth weight is positively associated with adult lung function in middle age, particularly in women, but the association diminishes with age, potentially due to accumulating environmental influences over the life course.
PLOS ONE Staff, 2015, Correction: Associations between green space and health in English cities: an ecological, cross-sectional study., PLoS One, Vol: 10, Pages: 1-2, ISSN: 1932-6203
Bovenberg JA, Hansell A, de Hoogh K, et al., 2015, Nature, nurture and exposure <i>Connecting biobank data with geographic data could yield public and individual health benefits</i>, <i>but risks to human rights need to be assessed</i>, EMBO REPORTS, Vol: 16, Pages: 404-406, ISSN: 1469-221X
Pearson C, Littlewood E, Douglas P, et al., 2015, Exposures and health outcomes in relation to bioaerosol emissions from composting facilities: a systematic review of occupational and community studies, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews, Vol: 18, Pages: 43-69, ISSN: 1093-7404
The number of composting sites in Europe is rapidly increasing, due to efforts to reduce the fraction of waste destined for landfill, but evidence on possible health impacts is limited. This article systematically reviews studies related to bioaerosol exposures within and near composting facilities and associated health effects in both community and occupational health settings. Six electronic databases and bibliographies from January 1960 to July 2014 were searched for studies reporting on health outcomes and/or bioaerosol emissions related to composting sites. Risk of bias was assessed using a customized score. Five hundred and thirty-six papers were identified and reviewed, and 66 articles met the inclusion criteria (48 exposure studies, 9 health studies, 9 health and exposure studies). Exposure information was limited, with most measurements taken in occupational settings and for limited time periods. Bioaerosol concentrations were highest on-site during agitation activities (turning, shredding, and screening). Six studies detected concentrations of either Aspergillus fumigatus or total bacteria above the English Environment Agency’s recommended threshold levels beyond 250 m from the site. Occupational studies of compost workers suggested elevated risks of respiratory illnesses with higher bioaerosol exposures. Elevated airway irritation was reported in residents near composting sites, but this may have been affected by reporting bias. The evidence base on health effects of bioaerosol emissions from composting facilities is still limited, although there is sufficient evidence to support a precautionary approach for regulatory purposes. While data to date are suggestive of possible respiratory effects, further study is needed to confirm this and to explore other health outcomes.Waste management policy is rapidly evolving, largely because European countries are running out of space for landfill sites. Further, poor waste management contributes to climate cha
Bovenberg JA, Knoppers BM, Hansell A, et al., 2015, Exposing participants? Population biobanks go geo, European Journal of Human Genetics, Vol: 24, Pages: 155-156, ISSN: 1018-4813
Bixby HRH, Hodgson S, Fortunato L, et al., 2015, Associations between Green Space and Health in English Cities: An Ecological, Cross-Sectional Study, PLOS One, Vol: 10, ISSN: 1932-6203
Ghosh RE, Close R, McCann LJ, et al., 2015, Analysis of hospital admissions due to accidental non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning in England, between 2001 and 2010, Journal of Public Health, Vol: 38, Pages: 76-83, ISSN: 1741-3850
Background Accidental non-fire-related (ANFR) carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a cause of fatalities and hospital admissions. This is the first study that describes the characteristics of ANFR CO hospital admissions in England.Methods Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) inpatient data for England between 2001 and 2010 were used. ANFR CO poisoning admissions were defined as any mention of ICD-10 code T58: toxic effect of CO and X47: accidental poisoning by gases or vapours, excluding ICD-10 codes potentially related to fires (X00-X09, T20-T32 and Y26).Results There were 2463 ANFR CO admissions over the 10-year period (annual rate: 0.49/100 000); these comprised just under half (48.7%) of all non-fire-related (accidental and non-accidental) CO admissions. There was seasonal variability, with more admissions in colder winter months. Higher admission rates were observed in the north of England. Just over half (53%) of ANFR admissions were male, and the highest rates of ANFR admissions were in those aged >80 years.Conclusion The burden of ANFR CO poisoning is preventable. The results of this study suggest an appreciable burden of CO and highlight differences that may aid targeting of public health interventions.
Fecht D, Fischer P, Fortunato L, et al., 2015, Associations between air pollution and socioeconomic characteristics, ethnicity and age profile of neighbourhoods in England and the Netherlands, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, Vol: 198, Pages: 201-210, ISSN: 0269-7491
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- Citations: 101
Jacquemin B, Siroux V, Sanchez M, et al., 2015, Ambient Air Pollution and Adult Asthma Incidence in Six European Cohorts (ESCAPE), Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol: 123, Pages: 613-621, ISSN: 1552-9924
BACKGROUND: Short-term exposure to air pollution has adverse effects among patients with asthma, whether long-term exposure to air pollution is a cause of adult-onset asthma is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between air pollution and adult onset asthma. METHODS: Asthma incidence was prospectively assessed in six European cohorts. Exposures studied were annual average concentrations at home addresses for nitrogen oxides assessed for 23,704 participants (including 1,257 incident cases) and particulate matter assessed for 17,909 participants through ESCAPE land-use regression models, and traffic exposure indicators. Meta-analyses of cohort-specific logistic regression on asthma incidence were performed. Models were adjusted on age, sex, overweight, education and smoking and included city/area within each cohort as a random effect. RESULTS: In this longitudinal analysis, asthma incidence was positively, but not significantly, associated with all exposure metrics, except for PMcoarse. Positive associations of borderline significance were observed for NO2, (adjusted OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.21 per 10 mug/m3; p=0.10) and NOx (1.04; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.08 per 20 mug/m3; p=0.08). Non-significant positive associations were estimated for PM10 (1.04; 95% CI: 0.88, 1.23 per 10 mug/m3), PM2.5 (1.04; 95% CI: 0.88, 1.23 per 5 mug/m3), PM2.5absorbance (1.06; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.19 per 10-5/m), traffic load (1.10; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.30 per four million vehicles x m/day on major roads in a 100m buffer) and traffic intensity (1.10; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.30 per 5,000 vehicles/day on the nearest road). A non-significant negative association was estimated for PMcoarse (0.98; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.14 per 5 mug/m3). CONCLUSIONS: Results are suggestive of a deleterious effect of ambient air pollution on asthma incidence in adults. Further research with improved personal-level exposure assessment (versus residential exposure assessment only) and phenotypic characterization is needed.
Cai Y, Blangiardo M, de Hoogh K, et al., 2015, Road traffic noise, air pollution and cardiorespiratory Health in European Cohorts: A harmonised approach in the BioShare project, Pages: 137-142
Background and aims: Few studies have investigated joint effects of road traffic noise and air pollution on cardiorespiratory outcomes. This project aims to quantify the joint and separate effects of both exposures on prevalent and incident cardiovascular disease and asthma as part of the EU-funded BioSHaRE project involving five European cohorts (EPIC-Oxford, EPIC-Turin, HUNT, Lifelines, UK Biobank). Methods: Health outcomes have been ascertained by self-report (prevalence) and medical record (incidence) and retrospectively harmonised across cohorts. Residential road traffic noise exposures for each participant are estimated using a European noise model based on Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe (CNOSSOS-EU). Road traffic air pollution estimates at home address were derived from Land Use Regression models. Cross-sectional and incident epidemiological analyses are in progress, using individual level data, virtually pooled using DataSHIELD methodology. Results: In total, 742,950 men and women are included from all five cohorts, mostly >40 years. Prevalence of self-reported myocardial infarction from these five cohorts is 2.1% (N=15,031) while prevalence of self-reported stroke is 1.4% (N=10,077). Initial pooled analysis of EPIC-Oxford, HUNT and Lifelines showed median day-time (07:00-19:00) noise estimate of 51.8 dB(A) and night-time (23:00-07:00) noise estimate of 43.5 dB(A). Correlations between noise estimates and NO2 are generally low (r=0.1 to 0.4). Conclusions: Pooling of individual level harmonised data from established cohorts offers the large sample sizes and exposure variations needed to investigate effects of road traffic noise and ambient air pollution on cardio-respiratory diseases.
Gulliver J, Morley D, Fecht D, et al., 2015, Feasibility study for using the CNOSSOS-EU road traffic noise prediction model with low resolution inputs for exposure estimation on a Europe-wide scale, Pages: 481-486
A noise model based on the CNOSSOS-EU method was developed to estimate exposures to road traffic noise at individual address locations for studies of noise and health in European cohorts in the EU FP7 BioSHaRE project. We assessed the loss in model performance from necessarily (i.e. at national scale) using low resolution data on traffic flows, road geography and land cover. To assess the feasibility of this approach in terms of the loss of model performance, we applied CNOSSOS-EU with different combinations of high- and low-resolution inputs (e.g. high resolution road geography with low resolution land cover) and compared noise level estimates with measurements of LAeq1hr from 38 locations in Leicester, a medium sized city in the UK. The lowest resolution model performed reasonably well in terms of correlation [rs = 0.75; p = 0.000)] but with relatively large model errors [RMSE = 4.46 dB(A)]. For a sample of postcode (zip code) locations (n=721) in Leicester, in comparing output from Model A (highest resolution) and Model F (lowest resolution), 81.8% and 72.8% of exposure estimates remained in the lowest and highest of three equal exposure categories, respectively.
Halonen J, Hansell A, Gulliver J, et al., 2015, Associations of road traffic noise with mortality and hospital admissions in London, Pages: 119-123
Background and aims Previously published studies have found associations of road noise with hypertension, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially for stroke. We aimed to examine the chronic effects of road traffic noise on mortality and hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease and stroke in a large general population. Methods The study population consisted of 8.61 million inhabitants in London. We assessed small-area level associations of day- (7:00-22:59) and night-time (23:00-06:59) road traffic noise with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular hospital admissions in all adults (25+ years) with Poisson regression models applying the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) approach in the Bayesian framework. We adjusted the models for age and sex, area-level deprivation, ethnicity, smoking, air pollution and a random effect. Results Mean daytime exposure to road traffic noise was 55.6 dB. Daytime noise was associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults; relative risks (RR) for all-cause mortality were 1.04 (95% CI 1.00-1.07) in areas with daytime road noise >60 dB vs. <55 dB. Exposure to daytime road traffic noise also increased the risk of hospital admission for stroke with RR 1.05 (95% CI 1.02-1.09) in areas >60 dB vs. <55 dB. Night-time noise was not associated with road traffic noise in adults of all ages. Conclusions This is the largest study to date to investigate environmental noise and cardiovascular disease. It suggests that road traffic noise is associated with small increased risks of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease.
Font A, de Hoogh K, Leal-Sanchez M, et al., 2015, Using metal ratios to detect emissions from municipal waste incinerators in ambient air pollution data, ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT, Vol: 113, Pages: 177-186, ISSN: 1352-2310
This study aimed to fingerprint emissions from six municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) and then test if these fingerprint ratios could be found in ambient air samples. Stack emissions tests from MWIs comprised As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, V and Hg. Those pairs of metals showing good correlation (R > 0.75) were taken as tracers of MWI emissions and ratios calculated: Cu/Pb; Cd/Pb; Cd/Cu and Cr/Pb. Emissions ratios from MWIs differed significantly from those in ambient rural locations and those close to traffic. In order to identify MWI emissions in ambient air two analysis tests were carried out. The first, aimed to explore if MWI emissions dominate the ambient concentrations. The mean ambient ratio of each of the four metal ratios were calculated for six ambient sampling sites within 10 km from a MWI under stable meteorological conditions when the wind blew from the direction of the incinerator. Under these meteorological conditions ambient Cd/Pb was within the range of MWI emissions at one location, two monitoring sites measured mean Cr/Pb ratios representative of the MWI emissions and the four sites measured values of Cu/Pb within the range of MWI emissions. No ambient measurements had mean Cd/Cu ratios within the MWI values. Even though MWI was not the main source determining the ambient metal ratios, possible occasional plume grounding might have occurred. The second test then examined possible plume grounding by identifying the periods when all metal ratios differed from rural and traffic values at the same time and were consistent with MWI emissions. Metal ratios consistent with MWI emissions were found in ambient air within 10 km of one MWI for about 0.2% of study period. Emissions consistent with a second MWI were similarly detected at two ambient measurement sites about 0.1% and 0.02% of the time. Where plume grounding was detected, the maximum annual mean particulate matter (PM) from the MWI was estimated to be 0.03 μg m-3 to 0.12 μg m-3; 2-3 order
Miller S, Wain L, Shrine N, et al., 2015, The Uk Bileve Study: The First Genetic Study In Uk Biobank Identifies Novel Regions Associated With Airway Obstruction And Smoking Behaviour, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Publisher: AMER THORACIC SOC, ISSN: 1073-449X
Adam M, Schikowski T, Carsin AE, et al., 2014, Adult lung function and long-term air pollution exposure. ESCAPE: a multicentre cohort study and meta-analysis, European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 45, Pages: 38-50, ISSN: 1399-3003
The chronic impact of ambient air pollutants on lung function in adults is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with lung function in adult participants from five cohorts in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE).Residential exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx) and particulate matter (PM) was modelled and traffic indicators were assessed in a standardised manner. The spirometric parameters forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) from 7613 subjects were considered as outcomes. Cohort-specific results were combined using meta-analysis.We did not observe an association of air pollution with longitudinal change in lung function, but we observed that a 10 μg·m−3 increase in NO2 exposure was associated with lower levels of FEV1 (−14.0 mL, 95%CI −25.8– −2.1) and FVC (−14.9 mL, 95% CI −28.7– −1.1). An increase of 10 μg·m−3 in PM10, but not other PM metrics (PM2.5, coarse fraction of PM, PM absorbance), was associated with a lower level of FEV1 (−44.6 mL, 95% CI −85.4– −3.8) and FVC (−59.0 mL, 95% CI −112.3– −5.6). The associations were particularly strong in obese persons.This study adds to the evidence for an adverse association of ambient air pollution with lung function in adults at very low levels in Europe.
de Hoogh K, Korek M, Vienneau D, et al., 2014, Comparing land use regression and dispersion modelling to assess residential exposure to ambient air pollution for epidemiological studies, ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL, Vol: 73, Pages: 382-392, ISSN: 0160-4120
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- Citations: 88
Cai Y, Schikowski T, Adam M, et al., 2014, Cross-sectional associations between air pollution and chronic bronchitis: an ESCAPE meta-analysis across five cohorts, Thorax, Vol: 69, Pages: 1005-1014, ISSN: 0040-6376
Background This study aimed to assess associations of outdoor air pollution on prevalence of chronic bronchitis symptoms in adults in five cohort studies (Asthma-E3N, ECRHS, NSHD, SALIA, SAPALDIA) participating in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) project.Methods Annual average particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PMabsorbance, PMcoarse), NO2, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and road traffic measures modelled from ESCAPE measurement campaigns 2008–2011 were assigned to home address at most recent assessments (1998–2011). Symptoms examined were chronic bronchitis (cough and phlegm for ≥3 months of the year for ≥2 years), chronic cough (with/without phlegm) and chronic phlegm (with/without cough). Cohort-specific cross-sectional multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted using common confounder sets (age, sex, smoking, interview season, education), followed by meta-analysis.Results 15 279 and 10 537 participants respectively were included in the main NO2 and PM analyses at assessments in 1998–2011. Overall, there were no statistically significant associations with any air pollutant or traffic exposure. Sensitivity analyses including in asthmatics only, females only or using back-extrapolated NO2 and PM10 for assessments in 1985–2002 (ECRHS, NSHD, SALIA, SAPALDIA) did not alter conclusions. In never-smokers, all associations were positive, but reached statistical significance only for chronic phlegm with PMcoarse OR 1.31 (1.05 to 1.64) per 5 µg/m3 increase and PM10 with similar effect size. Sensitivity analyses of older cohorts showed increased risk of chronic cough with PM2.5abs (black carbon) exposures.Conclusions Results do not show consistent associations between chronic bronchitis symptoms and current traffic-related air pollution in adult European populations.
Samarasundera E, Hansell A, Leibovici D, et al., 2014, Geological hazards: From early warning systems to public health toolkits, HEALTH & PLACE, Vol: 30, Pages: 116-119, ISSN: 1353-8292
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- Citations: 6
Ristovska G, Laszlo HE, Hansell AL, 2014, Reproductive Outcomes Associated with Noise Exposure - A Systematic Review of the Literature, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, Vol: 11, Pages: 7931-7952, ISSN: 1660-4601
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- Citations: 62
Hansell AL, Rose N, Cowie CT, et al., 2014, Weighted Road Density and Allergic Disease in Children at High Risk of Developing Asthma, PLOS ONE, Vol: 9, ISSN: 1932-6203
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- Citations: 16
Hansell A, Ghosh RE, Poole S, et al., 2014, Occupational Risk Factors for Chronic Respiratory Disease in a New Zealand Population Using Lifetime Occupational History, JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE, Vol: 56, Pages: 270-280, ISSN: 1076-2752
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- Citations: 15
Schikowski T, Adam M, Marcon A, et al., 2014, Association of ambient air pollution with the prevalence and incidence of COPD, Eur.Respir.J.
The role of air pollution in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains uncertain.The aim was to assess the impact of chronic exposure to air pollution on COPD in four cohorts using the standardised ESCAPE exposure estimates. Annual average particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and road traffic exposure were assigned to home addresses using land-use regression models. COPD was defined by NHANES reference equation (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) less than the lower limit of normal) and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criterion (FEV1/FVC <0.70) and categorised by severity in non-asthmatics.We included 6550 subjects with assigned NOx and 3692 with PM measures. COPD was not associated with NO2 or PM10 in any individual cohort. In meta-analyses only NO2, NOx, PM10 and the traffic indicators were positively, although not significantly, associated with COPD. The only statistically significant associations were seen in females (COPD prevalence using GOLD: OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.11-2.23; and incidence: OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.21-2.68).None of the principal results were statistically significant, the weak positive associations of exposure with COPD and the significant subgroup findings need to be evaluated in further well standardised cohorts followed up for longer time, and with time-matched exposure assignments
Cai Y, Blangiardo M, De Hoogh K, et al., 2014, Road traffic noise, air pollution and cardio-respiratory health in European cohorts: A harmonised approach in the BioSHaRE project
Background and aims: Few studies have investigated joint effects of road traffic noise and air pollution on cardiovascular outcomes. This project aims to quantify the joint and separate effects of both exposures on prevalent and incident cardiovascular disease and asthma as part of the EU-funded BioSHaRE project involving five European cohorts (EPIC-Oxford, EPIC-Turin, HUNT, Lifelines, UK Biobank). Methods: Health outcomes have been ascertained by self-report (prevalence) and medical record (incidence) and retrospectively harmonised across the five cohorts. Residential road traffic noise exposures for each participant are being estimated using a European noise model based on Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe (CNOSSOS-EU). Cross-sectional epidemiological analyses are in progress, virtually pooled using DataSHIELD methods. Results: In total, 716,945 men and women are included, mostly >40 years. Initial analysis of EPIC-Oxford and Lifelines showed prevalence of self-reported hypertension to be 26%, high blood lipids 15% and asthma 11% and mean annual 24-hour noise estimates of 56.4 dB(A) (EPIC-Oxford) and 65.8 dB(A) (Lifelines). Correlations between noise estimates and NO2 are generally low (r~0.1 to 0.4). Conclusions: Pooling of individual level harmonised data from established cohorts offers the large sample sizes needed to investigate effects of road traffic noise and ambient air pollution on cardio-respiratory diseases.
Schikowski T, Mills IC, Anderson HR, et al., 2014, Ambient air pollution: a cause of COPD?, EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, Vol: 43, Pages: 250-263, ISSN: 0903-1936
Hansell AL, Blangiardo M, Fortunato L, et al., 2014, Daytime and night-time aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease near Heathrow airport in London
Background. Few studies have investigated associations of aircraft noise with cardiovascular health. We investigated this in areas exposed to noise from London Heathrow airport. Methods. A small area study was conducted in 12,110 census output areas covering 3.6 million residents. Risks for hospital admissions and mortality in 2001-05 were assessed in relation to aircraft noise in 2001, adjusted for relevant confounders. Night (Lnight) and daytime (LAeq,16h) aircraft noise were assessed separately. Results. Higher aircraft noise was associated with higher relative risks for hospital admissions and mortality from stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease. Risk estimates were higher for night-time than daytime noise. Adjusted risks werehighest for stroke, with RR 1.29 [95% CI 1.14 to 1.46] for Lnight and RR 1.08 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.14] for LAeq,16hfor >55dB vs. <50dB. All linear dose-response relationships were statistically significant for hospital admissions but not for mortality, except for CHD and LAeq,16h. Discussion. This research attracted a high level of policy interest. However, the impact of this and other recent papers on policy decisions such as increased airport capacity in England is currently unclear. Priority areas for follow-up health research into aircraft noise need to be considered.
Hansell AL, Ghosh RE, Elliott P, 2013, AIRCRAFT NOISE AND HEALTH Whether noise exposure causes stroke or hypertension is still not known Reply, BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, Vol: 347, ISSN: 1756-1833
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