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. We identified residential address history and estimated road, railway, and aircraft noise for all addresses. Information on stroke incidence was acquired through link-age to national patient and mortality registries. We analyzed data using Cox proportional hazards models, including socioeconomic and lifestyle con-founders, and air pollution. RESULTS: During follow-up (median = 19:5 y), 11,056 stroke cases were identified. Road traffic noise (Lden ) was associated with risk of stroke, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.08] per 10-dB higher 5-y mean time-weighted exposure in analyses adjusted for indi-vidual-and area-level socioeconomic covariates. The association was approximately linear and persisted after adjustment for air pollution [particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2:5 lm (PM2:5 ) and NO2 ]. Stroke was associated with moderate levels of 5-y aircraft noise exposure (40–50 vs. ≤40 dB) (HR = 1:12; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.27), but not with higher exposure (≥50 dB, HR = 0:94; 95% CI: 0.79, 1.11). Railway noise was not associated with stroke. DISCUSSION: In this pooled study, road traffic noise was associated with a higher risk of stroke. This finding supports road traffic noise as an important cardiovascular risk factor that should be included when estimating the burden of disease due to traffic noise. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8949

Kvävedeposition i Stockholm län år 2015 : JÄMFÖRELSE MELLAN MODELLERAT KVÄVENEDFALL OCH MÄTNINGAR AV KVÄVE I MOSSA

På uppdrag av Länsstyrelsen i Stockholms län har SLB-analys beräknat deposition av kväve i Stockholms län år 2015. Den beräknade depositionen av kväve har jämförs med uppmätta halter av kväve i mossa. Provtagning i mossa har genomförs under år 2015 på totalt 52 lokaler i Stockholm län av IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet AB. Modellberäknat kvävenedfall år 2015 Luftburet kväve består i huvudsak av nitratkväve (NO3-N) och ammoniumkväve (NH4-N). Utsläpp från vägtrafiken är den dominerande källan till NO3-N i Stockholms län. Utsläppen av NH4-N härrör framförallt från vägtrafik, energisektorn, jordbruk samt avlopp och avfall. Det totala nedfallet av kväve omfattar såväl torrt som vått nedfall. Våtdeposition innebär att NO3-N och NH4-N i luften deponeras via nederbörden efter urtvättning av regn och moln, medan torrdeposition avser de föroreningar som fastnar på exempelvis trädkronor och sköljs ned med nederbörden. Beräkningarna av torrdeposition av NO3-N har gjorts med hjälp av SMHI-Airviro gaussmodell, medan de torra nedfallet av NH4-N har hämtats från beräkningar gjorda av SMHI med MATCH Sverige-systemet. Även beräknad våtdeposition (NO3-N och NH4-N) baseras på MATCH-modellen. Modellberäkningarna med MATCH visar att det högsta bidraget från våtdeposition förekommer i de sydvästra delarna av länet, för att sedan avta mot nordost. Vad gäller den beräknade torrdepositionen av NO3-N är den som störst i centrala delarna av Stockholm och längs med de stora vägarna, d v s där utsläppen är som störst. Utsläppen från NH4-N är till stor del lokaliserad till jordbruksområden, och MATCH-modellen beräknar det högsta torra nedfallet av NH4-N i sydvästra delen av länet. Den kritiska belastningsgränsen för övergödande kväve för Sveriges barrskogar ligger på 5 kg N per hektar och år. Denna gräns överskrids i stora delar av länet. I medeltal är depositionen på landyta ca 6 kg kväve per hektar och år. På vattenyta (hav och sjöar) deponeras i medeltal ca 4 kg kväve per hektar och år. Deposition över 10 kg per hektar förekommer i de centrala delarna av Stockholm och längs de mest trafikerade vägarna. Den totala depositionen inom Stockholms län år 2015 är beräknad till ca 6 900 ton kväve, varav ca 4 000 ton deponeras på land och ca 2 900 ton på vattenyta. Torrdepositionen står för drygt 40 % av den totala depositionen i länet. Både beräkningarna med SMHI-Airviro gaussmodell och SMHI Sverige-systemet är behäftade med stora osäkerheter. För att minska dessa osäkerheter har den modellerade depositionen jämförts med uppmätt deposition vid stationer inom Krondroppsnätet samt Stockholm Stads mätstation vid Kanaanbadet i Stockholm. Jämförelse mellan modellerat kvävenedfall och uppmätt kväve i mossa Det modellerade kvävenedfallet jämfördes även med resultat från provtagning av kväve i mossa i Stockholm län år 2015. Resultaten från provtagning i mossa fås som mg N per kg mossa alternativt som viktprocent kväve i mossan. För att kunna jämföra mossmätningarna med modellerat kvävenedfall räknades viktprocent kväve om till kg N/ha/år enligt Harmens et al., 2011: kväveinnehåll i mossa (%) = 0,62 + 0,067 * kvävenedfall (kg/ha/år). Denna metod innehåller stora osäkerheter. Jämförelsen visade på låg korrelation mellan modellberäknad totaldeposition av kväve och uppskattad uppmätt kväveinnehåll i mossa. Jämfört med mossmätningarna visade modellberäkningarna i vissa fall lägre, och vissa fall högre nedfall av kväve

Kvävedeposition i Stockholm län år 2015 : JÄMFÖRELSE MELLAN MODELLERAT KVÄVENEDFALL OCH MÄTNINGAR AV KVÄVE I MOSSA

På uppdrag av Länsstyrelsen i Stockholms län har SLB-analys beräknat deposition av kväve i Stockholms län år 2015. Den beräknade depositionen av kväve har jämförs med uppmätta halter av kväve i mossa. Provtagning i mossa har genomförs under år 2015 på totalt 52 lokaler i Stockholm län av IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet AB. Modellberäknat kvävenedfall år 2015 Luftburet kväve består i huvudsak av nitratkväve (NO3-N) och ammoniumkväve (NH4-N). Utsläpp från vägtrafiken är den dominerande källan till NO3-N i Stockholms län. Utsläppen av NH4-N härrör framförallt från vägtrafik, energisektorn, jordbruk samt avlopp och avfall. Det totala nedfallet av kväve omfattar såväl torrt som vått nedfall. Våtdeposition innebär att NO3-N och NH4-N i luften deponeras via nederbörden efter urtvättning av regn och moln, medan torrdeposition avser de föroreningar som fastnar på exempelvis trädkronor och sköljs ned med nederbörden. Beräkningarna av torrdeposition av NO3-N har gjorts med hjälp av SMHI-Airviro gaussmodell, medan de torra nedfallet av NH4-N har hämtats från beräkningar gjorda av SMHI med MATCH Sverige-systemet. Även beräknad våtdeposition (NO3-N och NH4-N) baseras på MATCH-modellen. Modellberäkningarna med MATCH visar att det högsta bidraget från våtdeposition förekommer i de sydvästra delarna av länet, för att sedan avta mot nordost. Vad gäller den beräknade torrdepositionen av NO3-N är den som störst i centrala delarna av Stockholm och längs med de stora vägarna, d v s där utsläppen är som störst. Utsläppen från NH4-N är till stor del lokaliserad till jordbruksområden, och MATCH-modellen beräknar det högsta torra nedfallet av NH4-N i sydvästra delen av länet. Den kritiska belastningsgränsen för övergödande kväve för Sveriges barrskogar ligger på 5 kg N per hektar och år. Denna gräns överskrids i stora delar av länet. I medeltal är depositionen på landyta ca 6 kg kväve per hektar och år. På vattenyta (hav och sjöar) deponeras i medeltal ca 4 kg kväve per hektar och år. Deposition över 10 kg per hektar förekommer i de centrala delarna av Stockholm och längs de mest trafikerade vägarna. Den totala depositionen inom Stockholms län år 2015 är beräknad till ca 6 900 ton kväve, varav ca 4 000 ton deponeras på land och ca 2 900 ton på vattenyta. Torrdepositionen står för drygt 40 % av den totala depositionen i länet. Både beräkningarna med SMHI-Airviro gaussmodell och SMHI Sverige-systemet är behäftade med stora osäkerheter. För att minska dessa osäkerheter har den modellerade depositionen jämförts med uppmätt deposition vid stationer inom Krondroppsnätet samt Stockholm Stads mätstation vid Kanaanbadet i Stockholm. Jämförelse mellan modellerat kvävenedfall och uppmätt kväve i mossa Det modellerade kvävenedfallet jämfördes även med resultat från provtagning av kväve i mossa i Stockholm län år 2015. Resultaten från provtagning i mossa fås som mg N per kg mossa alternativt som viktprocent kväve i mossan. För att kunna jämföra mossmätningarna med modellerat kvävenedfall räknades viktprocent kväve om till kg N/ha/år enligt Harmens et al., 2011: kväveinnehåll i mossa (%) = 0,62 + 0,067 * kvävenedfall (kg/ha/år). Denna metod innehåller stora osäkerheter. Jämförelsen visade på låg korrelation mellan modellberäknad totaldeposition av kväve och uppskattad uppmätt kväveinnehåll i mossa. Jämfört med mossmätningarna visade modellberäkningarna i vissa fall lägre, och vissa fall högre nedfall av kväve

Strategi och kompetensdynamik : en studie i Axis Communications

The purpose of this thesis is to introduce the concept of distinctive competence in a multi-theoretical setting, consisting of the resource-based view, strategic human resource management and organizational learning, in order to develop a theoretical framework for better understanding of the dynamic side of distinctive competence. The empirical part of the study consists of an in-depth case study of Axis Communications, a high-tech company in the global networking industry, primarily focusing on network connectitvity for non-PC devices. In order to develop a framework for better understanding the development of distinctice competencies, the concepts of vision and identity are introduced in the strategic management setting. This emerging framework, the competence-platform model, enables a distinction between knowledge, the ability to apply knowledge, and the role of motivation when discussing the emergence of competence. The thesis could thus be seen as an attempt to put forward foundations for a more dynamic view on developmental issues of distinctive competencies'

Knowledge webs and generative relations:: A network approach to developing competencies

Firms can enjoy competitive advantage by developing relations for building knowledge webs. In order to become valuable, the relations in these knowledge webs need to be of a 'generative character'. Our findings indicate that there are three different factors contributing to making relations in the web generative and thereby valuable. These three factors are (1) a balance between novelty and confirmation in knowledge exchanges, (2) complementarity of competencies, and (3) shared visions across organizational borders. We examine each of these potential factors for creating value in detail and also discuss how organizations can improve their ability to build generative relations.Knowledge Webs Knowledge Landscapes Generative Relations Resource-based View Network High Technology Competencies Wireless Communication 'Bluetooth'

Corporate performance and firm perception: The British experience

Previous academic research has presented a theoretical basis for a relationship between attributes of a firm's reputation and its financial performance. For the United States, researchers have analysed the correspondence between market and accounting based measures of US firm performance and external evaluators' perceptions of the qualitative attributes of US firms. In this study, expert surveys on the qualitative performance of British firms conducted by the British publication, the Economist, which are similar in content to surveys conducted by Fortune magazine for US firms, are used to determine the correspondence between qualitative and quantitative measures of British firms' performance. Results indicate that differences may exist between US and Britain in the use of qualitative survey data on a firm's strategic attributes as a forecast of a firm's future quantitative performance measures. Results also indicate that for small firms, certain qualitative factors (e.g. capacity to innovate) may be of greater importance in forecasting accounting and security market returns. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd. 1996.

Traffic pollution at the home address and pregnancy outcomes in Stockholm, Sweden

BACKGROUND: For the past two decades, several studies have reported associations between elevated levels of ambient air pollution and adverse pregnancy outcomes, although with varying conclusions. OBJECTIVES: To examine possible associations between the traffic pollution situation at the home address, for women who did not change address during pregnancy, and three types of pregnancy outcomes: spontaneous preterm delivery, children born small for gestational age (SGA) and pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders. METHODS: We used data for the Greater Stockholm Area from the Swedish Medical Birth Register to construct a cohort based on all pregnancies conceived between July 1997 and March 2006, n=100 190. The pregnancy average nitrogen oxide, NOx, levels and annual mean daily vehicles at the home address were used as exposure variables. Mixed-model logistic regression was performed to assess any associations between exposure and outcome. RESULTS: There was an association between elevated traffic pollution exposure during pregnancy and pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders. A 10 µg/m(3) increase in the pregnancy average NOx level at the home address resulted in an OR of 1.17 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.26). The 2nd to 4th quartiles of NOx were all associated with an increased risk of SGA, but there was no difference in the risk estimate among the higher quartiles. There was a tendency of a higher risk of spontaneous preterm delivery in relation to higher levels of NOx. There was no evidence of an association between vehicle flow, the cruder indicator of traffic pollution, and the studied outcomes in this study. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort, there was a fairly strong association between vehicle exhaust levels at the home address and pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, after adjustment for important risk factors

Measuring the external health cost of particulate matter from road traffic and other sources in Stockholm, Sweden

This paper measures the external health cost due to emissions from different sources in the Stockholm area using the Impact pathway approach. The estimated health impact is the result of detailed dispersion modelling with high spatial resolution. We make separate calculations for the impact that occur within the Stockholm area, the surrounding region and the rest of Europe. The pollutants considered are combustion and secondary particulate matter (PM) from the burning of fuels and also road wear (non-exhaust PM) that makes a large contribution to measured concentrations of PM locally in Stockholm. We also investigate the influence of assumptions made regarding the exposure-response functions used in these calculations since PM of different origin are expected to have different health impacts. According to the results road traffic makes important contributions to the external health cost both on a local and a regional scale compared to other sources. This is in part due to emissions being released in close proximity to where people live but also because of the amount of pollutants emitted. Although non-exhaust PM makes a large contribution to local population exposure within Stockholm the external health cost is relatively small which is due to other health impact being relevant for this emission source. Residential heating also makes an important contribution to exposure and external health cost on a local scale while power plants have a large influence regionally

The mortality cost of particulate matter due to emissions in the Stockholm area : an investigation into harmfulness, sources and the geographical dimension of their impact

It has long been recognized that emissions from traffic have a negative impact on human health. In recent years there has been emerging consensus that the main influence is due to particulate matter. From an economic point of view these negative effects are external costs caused by traffic that, if not accounted for in decision making regarding transport, will result in a non-optimal allocation of resources leading to welfare losses. To be able to implement road pricing measures, but also for the evaluation of other control measures through benefit-cost analysis, information on the external cost of traffic emissions is needed. In the Impact pathway approach (IPA), that has been developed in the ExternE projects, the external cost is calculated as the product of exposure, effect and value. In this study the effect we focus on is health impacts (mortality). Regarding particulate matter (PM) there is recognition among the research community that there are different types of PM and that it is likely that their impact on human health differs. Still the current practice is to treat fine PM (which are considered to be most detrimental to health) as equally harmful irrespective of origin. In the TESS project the purpose has been to investigate how important the external health cost of road traffic generated PM is in relation to the cost of other sources of PM. To do this we have both investigated how the exposure varies between sources but also assessed if it is reasonable to assume that the impact differs between PM from different sources. Whether or not to assume that PM of different origin is equally harmful is of particular interest in Sweden where non-exhaust PM makes a large contribution to the concentrations of PM in urban areas. In the project we have used Stockholm as a case study and we have focused on mortality since this is the health impact that has been found to have the largest impact on health cost in other studies

The mortality cost of particulate matter due to emissions in the Stockholm area : an investigation into harmfulness, sources and the geographical dimension of their impact

It has long been recognized that emissions from traffic have a negative impact on human health. In recent years there has been emerging consensus that the main influence is due to particulate matter. From an economic point of view these negative effects are external costs caused by traffic that, if not accounted for in decision making regarding transport, will result in a non-optimal allocation of resources leading to welfare losses. To be able to implement road pricing measures, but also for the evaluation of other control measures through benefit-cost analysis, information on the external cost of traffic emissions is needed. In the Impact pathway approach (IPA), that has been developed in the ExternE projects, the external cost is calculated as the product of exposure, effect and value. In this study the effect we focus on is health impacts (mortality). Regarding particulate matter (PM) there is recognition among the research community that there are different types of PM and that it is likely that their impact on human health differs. Still the current practice is to treat fine PM (which are considered to be most detrimental to health) as equally harmful irrespective of origin. In the TESS project the purpose has been to investigate how important the external health cost of road traffic generated PM is in relation to the cost of other sources of PM. To do this we have both investigated how the exposure varies between sources but also assessed if it is reasonable to assume that the impact differs between PM from different sources. Whether or not to assume that PM of different origin is equally harmful is of particular interest in Sweden where non-exhaust PM makes a large contribution to the concentrations of PM in urban areas. In the project we have used Stockholm as a case study and we have focused on mortality since this is the health impact that has been found to have the largest impact on health cost in other studies