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Ultrafine particles (UFP), commonly expressed as particle number concentrations (PNC), have been associated with harm to human health yet are currently not regulated or routinely monitored in many places. This has limited the potential for studies of health effects of long-term exposure to UFP. The present study aims to understand the spatial and temporal variation in façade-level UFP exposures in Copenhagen, Denmark. We measured PNC at the façades of 27 residences across the city for approximately 72 h each in two campaigns and continuously at an urban background reference site for twelve consecutive months, using portable monitors (miniature diffusion size classifiers [DiSCminis]). We estimated annual means at the residential sites based on temporal adjustment using reference site data. Furthermore, we co-located the DiSCminis at a regulatory monitoring station on three occasions and compared daily means from our reference site to those from seven fixed-site monitoring stations throughout the city. Annual mean PNC at the reference site was 4,715 (SD of hourly mean: 3,001) pt/cm 3, while annual means at 27 residences were slightly higher with a mean of 5,201 pt/cm 3 (SD: 807), ranging between 3,735 and 6,588 pt/cm 3. The two individual adjusted campaign-specific means at 27 residential sites were weakly correlated (Spearman's correlation 0.11) and had an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.06 (95%-confidence interval: -0.18, 0.28). Daily PNC at the reference site was highly correlated (R=0.64-0.84) with PNC monitored at seven fixed-site stations throughout the city. We observed a seasonal trend at the reference site with the highest PNC in spring. Our measurement campaign revealed that façade-level PNC at residences in Copenhagen in 2021-2022 were relatively low with small spatial variability. The large variability in time suggests possibly longer and more frequent measurement campaigns to obtain more stable annual averages. Our study illustrates the challe

Objectives To explore the associations of long-term exposure to air pollution with onset of all human health conditions. Design Prospective phenome-wide association study. Setting Denmark. Participants All Danish residents aged ≥30 years on 1 January 2000 were included (N=3 323 612). After exclusion of individuals with missing geocoded residential addresses, 3 111 988 participants were available for the statistical analyses. Main outcome measure First registered diagnosis of every health condition according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, from 2000 to 2017. Results Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) were both positively associated with the onset of more than 700 health conditions (ie, >80% of the registered health conditions) after correction for multiple testing, while the remaining associations were inverse or insignificant. As regards the most common health conditions, PM 2.5 and NO 2 were strongest positively associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PM 2.5: HR 1.06 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.07) per 1 IQR increase in exposure level; NO 2: 1.14 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.15)), type 2 diabetes (PM 2.5: 1.06 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.06); NO 2: 1.12 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.13)) and ischaemic heart disease (PM 2.5: 1.05 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.05); NO 2: 1.11 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.12)). Furthermore, PM 2.5 and NO 2 were both positively associated with so far unexplored, but highly prevalent outcomes relevant to public health, including senile cataract, hearing loss and urinary tract infection. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that air pollution has a more extensive impact on human health than previously known. However, as this study is the first of its kind to investigate the associations of long-term exposure to air pollution with onset of all human health conditions, further research is needed to replicate the study findings.

INTRODUCTION: We examined the association of long-term exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise with dementia incidence in the Danish Nurse Cohort.METHODS: Female nurses were followed for dementia incidence (hospital contact or medication prescription) from 1993/1999 to 2020. Air pollution and road traffic noise levels were estimated at nurses' residences, and their associations with dementia were examined using Cox regression models.RESULTS: Of 25,233 nurses 1409 developed dementia. Particulate matter with a diameter of ≤2.5 µm (PM 2.5) was associated with dementia incidence, after adjusting for lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and road traffic noise (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.35 [1.15-1.59] per interquartile range of 2.6 µg/m 3). There was no association of PM2.5 with dementia in physically active nurses. Association with road traffic noise diminished after adjusting for PM₂.₅ (1.02 [0.93-1.11] per 7.6 dB). DISCUSSION: Long-term exposure to air pollution increases risk of dementia, and physical activity may moderate this risk.HIGHLIGHTS: Long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with increased risk of dementia among female nurses from the Danish Nurse Cohort. Association of air pollution with dementia was independent of road traffic noise. Association of road traffic noise with dementia diminished after adjusting for air pollution. Physical activity moderated adverse effects of air pollution on dementia.

RATIONALE: Air pollution is a major risk factor for chronic cardiorespiratory diseases, affecting both the immune and respiratory systems' functionality, while the epidemiological evidence on respiratory infections remains sparse.OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the association of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with risk of developing new and recurrent ALRIs that characterized by persistently severe symptoms necessitating hospital contact, and identify the potential susceptible populations by socio-economic status (SES), smoking, physical activity status, overweight, and co-morbidity with chronic lung disease.METHODS: We followed 23,912 female nurses from the Danish Nurse Cohort (> 44 years) from baseline (1993 or 1999) until 2018 for the incident and recurrent ALRIs defined by hospital contact (in-, outpatient, and emergency room) data from the National Patient Register. Residential annual mean concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and black carbon (BC) were modelled using Danish DEHM/UBM/AirGIS system. We used marginal Cox models with time-varying exposures to assess the association of 3-year running-mean air pollution with incident and recurrent ALRIs and examine effect modification by age, socio-economic status (SES), smoking, physical activity, body mass index, and comorbidity with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).RESULTS: During a 21.3 years mean follow-up, 4,746 ALRIs were observed, of which 2,553 were incident. We observed strong positive associations of all three pollutants with incident ALRIs, with hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 1.19 (1.08-1.31) per 2.5 µg/m3 for PM2.5, 1.17 (1.11-1.24) per 8.0 µg/m3 for NO2, and 1.09 (1.05-1.12) per 0.3 µg/m3 for BC, and slightly stronger associations with recurrent ALRIs. Associations were strongest in COPD patients and nurses with low physical activity.CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to air pollution at l

Baggrund: Aktiv mobilitet er en beskyttende helbredsfaktor gennem øget fysisk aktivitet, mens det samtidig udsætter for mere luftforurening. Den samlede effekt på helbredet er blevet beskrevet som gavnlig, undtagen ved ekstremt høje luftforureningsniveauer. Tidligere studier har undersøgt kortsigtede sundhedseffekter ved aktiv mobilitet under eksponering for luftforurening, men få har undersøgt langtidseffekter. Metode: Jeg har udført en systematisk gennemgang af eksisterende litteratur i PubMeddatabasen. Observationsstudier, der undersøgte sammenhængen, interaktionen eller effektmodifikation af sammenhængen mellem aktiv mobilitet og luftforurening med fokus på langsigtede helbredseffekter blev inkluderet. Resultater og diskussion: Data fra de prospektive kohortestudier inkluderede total og årsagsspecifik dødelighed, hjertekarsygdomme, respiratorisk morbiditet og kræft som helbredsudfald. I studier med lave til moderate niveauer af luftforurening var der reduceret risiko for årsagsspecifik dødelighed, incidens af astma og kronisk obstruktiv lungesygdom (KOL), samt incidens og tilbagefald af hjertekarsygdomme. Hazard ratio for disse sammenhænge var uden påvist effektmodifikation ved øget niveau af fine partikler (PM2.5 diameter < 2.5 µm) eller nitrogendioxid (NO2). Til gengæld var det påvist at høje niveauer af PM2.5 (> 54 µg/m3 ) nedsatte fordelene for hjertekarsygdomme og total dødelighed opnået ved aktiv mobilitet. Tværsnitsstudier understøttede disse fund ved at forudsige mindre helbredsfordele ved beboelse i gangvenlige kvarterer ved høj luftforurening samt viste større fordel ved cykling og gang efter justering for luftforurening. De inkluderede studier var meget heterogene i deres definition af aktiv mobilitet samt luftforureningsstof og -niveau, hvilket gjorde en metaanalyse vanskelig at udføre. Konklusion: Ved luftforureningsniveauer svarende til de fleste europæisk, Background: Active commute offers the protective effect of physical activity while increasing the exposure to air pollution. This joint effect has been described as always beneficial for health, with the exception of when in extremely high air pollution levels. Previous studies have addressed the short-term health effects of active mobility in air pollution, but few have addressed the long-term effects. Method: I have conducted a systematic review of the existing literature in the PubMed database including observational studies addressing interactions, association or effect modification of associations between active mobility and air pollutants with respect to health effects and emphasis on long-term studies. Results and discussion: Data from retrieved prospective cohort studies included health outcomes in terms of total and cause-specific mortality, cardiovascular morbidity, respiratory morbidity and cancer. In studies with low to moderate air pollution levels the reduced hazard ratio of cause-specific mortality, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonay disease (COPD) incidence, incident and recurrent cardiovascular disease associated with active mobility showed no effect modification by level of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5, diameter < 2.5 µm) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2). However, high levels of PM2.5 ( > 54 µg/m3 ) significantly offset health benefits of active mobility for cardiovascular disease incidence and total mortality. Cross-sectional studies supported these finding, by predicting less benefit from living in walkable neighbourhood when in high air pollution as well as showing stronger benefit from active commute after adjusting for air pollutants. The included studies were very heterogenous in their definition of active mobility as well as pollutant type and pollution levels, making a meta-analysis difficult. Conclusion: At air pollutant levels enc

Recent research suggests a link between air pollution and cognitive development in children, and studies on air pollution and academic achievement are emerging. We conducted a nationwide cohort study in Denmark to explore the associations between lifetime exposure to air pollution and academic performance in 9th grade. The study encompassed 785,312 children born in Denmark between 1989 and 2005, all of whom completed 9th-grade exit examinations. Using linear mixed models with a random intercept for each school, we assessed the relationship between 16 years of exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and gaseous pollutants and Grade Point Averages (GPA) in exit examinations, covering subjects such as Danish literature, Danish writing, English, mathematics, and natural sciences. The study revealed that a 5 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with a decrease of 0.99 (95 % Confidence Intervals: -1.05, -0.92) and 0.46 (-0.50, -0.41) in GPA, respectively. Notably, these negative associations were more pronounced in mathematics and natural sciences compared to language-related subjects. Additionally, girls and children with non-Danish mothers were found to be particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution exposure. These results underscore the potential long-term consequences of air pollution on academic achievement, emphasizing the significance of interventions that foster healthier environments for children's cognitive development.

Background The burden of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) is high in childhood. Several residential exposures may affect relative rates. Objectives To determine risk of RTIs in children ages 11 and 12 by residential exposures. Methods We included children in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) at ages 11 and 12. We estimated incidence risk ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for counts of RTIs within the last year by exposure to mold/dampness, gas stove usage, summer and winter candle-burning, fireplace usage, cats and dogs indoors, and farmhouse living. We also estimated IRR and 95% CI for RTIs for predicted scores of four extracted factors (‘owned house’, ‘mold and dampness’, ‘candles’, and ‘density’) from exploratory factor analyses (EFA). Results We included 42 720 children with complete data. Mold/dampness was associated with all RTIs (common cold: IRRadj 1.09[1.07, 1.12]; influenza: IRRadj 1.10 [1.05, 1.15]; tonsillitis: IRRadj 1.19 [1.10, 1.28]; conjunctivitis: IRRadj 1.16 [1.02, 1.32]; and doctor-diagnosed pneumonia: IRRadj 1.05 [0.90, 1.21]), as was the EFA factor ‘mold/dampness’ for several outcomes. Gas stove usage was associated with conjunctivitis (IRRadj 1.25 [1.05, 1.49]) and with doctor-diagnosed pneumonia (IRRadj 1.14 [0.93, 1.39]). Candle-burning during summer, but not winter, was associated with several RTIs, for tonsillitis in a dose-dependent fashion (increasing weekly frequencies vs. none: [IRRadj 1.06 [0.98, 1.14], IRRadj 1.16 [1.04, 1.30], IRRadj 1.23 [1.06, 1.43], IRRadj 1.29 [1.00, 1.67], and IRRadj 1.41 [1.12, 1.78]). Conclusion Residential exposures, in particular to mold and dampness and to a lesser degree to indoor combustion sources, are related to the occurrence of RTIs in children., BACKGROUND: The burden of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) is high in childhood. Several residential exposures may affect relative rates.OBJECTIVES: To determine risk of RTIs in children ages 11 and 12 by residential exposures.METHODS: We included children in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) at ages 11 and 12. We estimated incidence risk ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for counts of RTIs within the last year by exposure to mold/dampness, gas stove usage, summer and winter candle-burning, fireplace usage, cats and dogs indoors, and farmhouse living. We also estimated IRR and 95% CI for RTIs for predicted scores of four extracted factors ('owned house', 'mold and dampness', 'candles', and 'density') from exploratory factor analyses (EFA).RESULTS: We included 42 720 children with complete data. Mold/dampness was associated with all RTIs (common cold: IRRadj 1.09[1.07, 1.12]; influenza: IRRadj 1.10 [1.05, 1.15]; tonsillitis: IRRadj 1.19 [1.10, 1.28]; conjunctivitis: IRRadj 1.16 [1.02, 1.32]; and doctor-diagnosed pneumonia: IRRadj 1.05 [0.90, 1.21]), as was the EFA factor 'mold/dampness' for several outcomes. Gas stove usage was associated with conjunctivitis (IRRadj 1.25 [1.05, 1.49]) and with doctor-diagnosed pneumonia (IRRadj 1.14 [0.93, 1.39]). Candle-burning during summer, but not winter, was associated with several RTIs, for tonsillitis in a dose-dependent fashion (increasing weekly frequencies vs. none: [IRRadj 1.06 [0.98, 1.14], IRRadj 1.16 [1.04, 1.30], IRRadj 1.23 [1.06, 1.43], IRRadj 1.29 [1.00, 1.67], and IRRadj 1.41 [1.12, 1.78]).CONCLUSION: Residential exposures, in particular to mold and dampness and to a lesser degree to indoor combustion sources, are related to the occurrence of RTIs in children.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the associations of long-term exposure to air pollution with onset of all human health conditions.DESIGN: Prospective phenome-wide association study.SETTING: Denmark.PARTICIPANTS: All Danish residents aged ≥30 years on 1 January 2000 were included (N=3 323 612). After exclusion of individuals with missing geocoded residential addresses, 3 111 988 participants were available for the statistical analyses.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: First registered diagnosis of every health condition according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, from 2000 to 2017.RESULTS: Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) were both positively associated with the onset of more than 700 health conditions (ie, >80% of the registered health conditions) after correction for multiple testing, while the remaining associations were inverse or insignificant. As regards the most common health conditions, PM 2.5 and NO 2 were strongest positively associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PM 2.5: HR 1.06 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.07) per 1 IQR increase in exposure level; NO 2: 1.14 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.15)), type 2 diabetes (PM 2.5: 1.06 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.06); NO 2: 1.12 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.13)) and ischaemic heart disease (PM 2.5: 1.05 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.05); NO 2: 1.11 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.12)). Furthermore, PM 2.5 and NO 2 were both positively associated with so far unexplored, but highly prevalent outcomes relevant to public health, including senile cataract, hearing loss and urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that air pollution has a more extensive impact on human health than previously known. However, as this study is the first of its kind to investigate the associations of long-term exposure to air pollution with onset of all human health conditions, further research is needed to replicate the study findings.

Background and aims Cardiovascular disease (CVD) aggregates in families and offspring with parental CVD may have adverse risk factor levels long time before the potential onset of CVD. We compared risk factor levels in offspring of parents with atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) and parents with no ASCVD at different parental ages at onset. Methods The study included 5751 participants (median age: 50 years) of the Diet, Cancer and Health - Next Generations study. Measurements included blood pressure, body composition and lipid fractions. Information on parental ASCVD and age at disease onset was obtained through register linkage. Parental ASCVD was defined as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or peripheral artery disease occurring <70 years, prematurely (mothers: <65 years fathers: <55 years), divided into age categories or using a broader classification of CVD. Linear regression models using Generalized Estimating Equations were used for analysis. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity and some additionally for BMI. Results Offspring with parental ASCVD had a higher blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI, visceral adipose tissue, percentage of body fat and non-HDL cholesterol levels, but not other lipid levels, compared to offspring with no parental ASCVD (all p < 0.01). Overall, the same patterns were observed for parental ASCVD occurring prematurely and using a broader CVD classification. Conclusions Offspring with parental ASCVD had a higher blood pressure, higher body composition measures and higher non-HDL cholesterol levels compared to offspring with no parental ASCVD. Findings were overall consistent across different classifications of parental ASCVD., BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) aggregates in families and offspring with parental CVD may have adverse risk factor levels long time before the potential onset of CVD. We compared risk factor levels in offspring of parents with atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) and parents with no ASCVD at different parental ages at onset.METHODS: The study included 5751 participants (median age: 50 years) of the Diet, Cancer and Health - Next Generations study. Measurements included blood pressure, body composition and lipid fractions. Information on parental ASCVD and age at disease onset was obtained through register linkage. Parental ASCVD was defined as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or peripheral artery disease occurring <70 years, prematurely (mothers: <65 years fathers: <55 years), divided into age categories or using a broader classification of CVD. Linear regression models using Generalized Estimating Equations were used for analysis. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity and some additionally for BMI.RESULTS: Offspring with parental ASCVD had a higher blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI, visceral adipose tissue, percentage of body fat and non-HDL cholesterol levels, but not other lipid levels, compared to offspring with no parental ASCVD (all p < 0.01). Overall, the same patterns were observed for parental ASCVD occurring prematurely and using a broader CVD classification.CONCLUSIONS: Offspring with parental ASCVD had a higher blood pressure, higher body composition measures and higher non-HDL cholesterol levels compared to offspring with no parental ASCVD. Findings were overall consistent across different classifications of parental ASCVD.

Background Many residential indoor environments may have an impact on children’s respiratory health. Objectives The aims of this study were to identify latent classes of children from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) who share similar patterns of exposure to indoor home characteristics, and to examine the association between membership in the latent classes and asthma in adolescence. Methods We included data on residential indoor characteristics of offspring from the DNBC whose mothers had responded to the child’s 11-year follow-up and who had data on asthma from the 18-year follow-up. Number of classes and associations were estimated using latent class analysis. To account for sample selection, we applied inverse probability weighting. Results Our final model included five latent classes. The probability of current asthma at 18 years was highest among individuals in class one with higher clustering on household dampness (9, 95%CI 0.06–0.13). Individuals in class four (with higher clustering on pets ownership and living in a farm) had a lower risk of current asthma at age 18 compared to individuals in class one (with higher clustering on household dampness) (OR 0.53 (95%CI 0.32–0.88), p = .01). Conclusion Our findings suggest that, in a high-income country such as Denmark, groups of adolescents growing up in homes with mold and moisture during mid-childhood might be at increased risk of current asthma at age 18. Adolescents who grew-up in a farmhouse and who were exposed to pets seem less likely to suffer from asthma by age 18., Background: Many residential indoor environments may have an impact on children’s respiratory health. Objectives: The aims of this study were to identify latent classes of children from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) who share similar patterns of exposure to indoor home characteristics, and to examine the association between membership in the latent classes and asthma in adolescence. Methods: We included data on residential indoor characteristics of offspring from the DNBC whose mothers had responded to the child’s 11-year follow-up and who had data on asthma from the 18-year follow-up. Number of classes and associations were estimated using latent class analysis. To account for sample selection, we applied inverse probability weighting. Results: Our final model included five latent classes. The probability of current asthma at 18 years was highest among individuals in class one with higher clustering on household dampness (9, 95%CI 0.06–0.13). Individuals in class four (with higher clustering on pets ownership and living in a farm) had a lower risk of current asthma at age 18 compared to individuals in class one (with higher clustering on household dampness) (OR 0.53 (95%CI 0.32–0.88), p =.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that, in a high-income country such as Denmark, groups of adolescents growing up in homes with mold and moisture during mid-childhood might be at increased risk of current asthma at age 18. Adolescents who grew-up in a farmhouse and who were exposed to pets seem less likely to suffer from asthma by age 18.