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Emelyanova A, Blix BH, Larsson A, Olafsdottir SA, Rautio A. Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2339561. [PMID: 38615335 PMCID: PMC11017993 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2339561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, policy strategies were adopted in response to population ageing in the Nordic countries. Governmental actions have to be evaluated in terms of their efficacy. The objective of this article is to identify and review the policies related to age-inclusive outdoor spaces in the Arctic regions of Nordic countries. Our analysis focuses on central government white papers that address the older adults in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. A review of such policy documents provides insights into the predominant understandings of older adults and healthy ageing. Moreover, such analysis may identify "blind spots" in the national policies, especially regarding the sparsely researched northernmost and rural Arctic territories. Our results demonstrate how the older populations in the Nordic Arctic and their access to outdoor spaces are addressed in the policy documents. We found that with few exceptions, the older people of the rural Arctic is strikingly absent in the Nordic national governmental papers. Moreover, access to outdoor spaces is mentioned in general terms, and specific challenges of the rural Arctic context, such as the harsh climate, long winters and geographical distances are not addressed. The noticed omissions might be the result of "urban-rural", "south-north", "indoor-outdoor", and "generalisation" biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Emelyanova
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Bodil H. Blix
- Department of health and care sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Faculty of education, arts and sports, Western Norway University of Applied Science, Bergen, Norway
| | - Agneta Larsson
- Division of Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Steinunn A. Olafsdottir
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Healey Akearok GK, Chaliak AJ, Cueva K, Cook D, Larsen CVL, Jóhannsdóttir L, Nilsson LM, San Sebastián M, Peterson M, Timlin U, Broderstadt AR, Dagsvold I, Siri S, Olesen I, Stoor JPA, Rautio A, Rink E, Lavoie JG. Diverse methodological approaches to a Circumpolar multi-site case study which upholds and responds to local and Indigenous community research processes in the Arctic. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2336284. [PMID: 38573784 PMCID: PMC10997363 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2336284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper outlines the methodological approaches to a multi-site Circumpolar case study exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous and remote communities in 7 of 8 Arctic countries. Researchers involved with the project implemented a three-phase multi-site case study to assess the positive and negative societal outcomes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Arctic communities from 2020 to 2023. The goal of the multi-site case study was to identify community-driven models and evidence-based promising practices and recommendations that can help inform cohesive and coordinated public health responses and protocols related to future public health emergencies in the Arctic. Research sites included a minimum of 1 one community each from Canada (Nunavut,) United States of America (Alaska), Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland. The approaches used for our multi-site case study provide a comprehensive, evidence-based account of the complex health challenges facing Arctic communities, offering insights into the effectiveness of interventions, while also privileging Indigenous local knowledge and voices. The mixed method multi-site case study approach enriched the understanding of unique regional health disparities and strengths during the pandemic. These methodological approaches serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals, informing future strategies and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Katie Cueva
- Department of Psychology, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - David Cook
- Environment and Natural Resources Programme, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Christina VL Larsen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Lára Jóhannsdóttir
- Environment and Natural Resources Programme, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Lena Maria Nilsson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Miguel San Sebastián
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Malory Peterson
- Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Ulla Timlin
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ann Ragnhild Broderstadt
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Inger Dagsvold
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Susanna Siri
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ingelise Olesen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Jon Petter A. Stoor
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Arja Rautio
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Elizabeth Rink
- Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Josée G. Lavoie
- Ongomiizwin Research, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Timlin U, Rautio A. Communicating and complying with COVID-19 actions in northernmost Finland. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2313822. [PMID: 38351741 PMCID: PMC10868415 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2313822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In Finland, national and local restrictions were implemented to control the COVID-19 pandemic after the increase of cases, and it changed the everyday life of people. The purpose of our study was to explore public health communication and compliance related to the COVID-19 public health instructions, recommendations, and restrictions in two municipalities in Northernmost Finland, Inari and Utsjoki. We interviewed the representatives and operators working in the municipalities to understand and learn about their experiences. Results suggested that residents complied with different COVID-19 actions, and overall, communication was found to be good. Altogether, guidelines were easy to follow but required the individual's own activity. Guidelines were also published in Sámi language. National border restrictions were a challenging part of communication and information, and guidelines were found to be contradictory at times. National border actions required resources from the municipalities, e.g. testing, which caused more demands on municipalities operating with already low resources. In the future, it is essential to consider the local situation of the pandemic and harmonise actions and put effort on local cooperation. It is important to invest in clear communication, which reaches people of all ages, and in three Sámi languages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulla Timlin
- Arctic Health, Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and University of the Arctic, Finland
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Timlin U, Rautio A. COVID-19 impacts in Northernmost Finland. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2314368. [PMID: 38359161 PMCID: PMC10877646 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2314368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged our lives during the years 2020-2022. Impacts could be seen in everyday life, both locally and nationally, through economic, mental and social elements. However, these effects varied depending on the life situation of individuals. This paper aims to gather information from the representatives and operators working in two Finnish municipalities, Inari and Utsjoki, to understand and learn about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data (20 interviews) were collected between December 2021 and February 2022 and analysed following the principles of the qualitative content analysis. The results suggest that the effects of COVID-19 emerged through issues related to the national border between Finland and Norway, economic challenges, and the pressure that people experienced. However, despite challenges, people were supported by everyday life and a connection to nature, communality and close co-operation. Additionally, local needs were highlighted among participants. The results provide a deeper understanding about the public health impacts in these Northernmost municipalities and can therefore be utilised in future development work. They also provide relevant information on the experiences of Sámi people, and specific views related to Sámi people can be recognised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulla Timlin
- Arctic Health, Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Arctic Health, Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Arctic, Oulu, Finland
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Peterson M, Akearok GH, Cueva K, Lavoie JG, Larsen CVL, Jóhannsdóttir L, Cook D, Nilsson LM, Rautio A, Timlin U, San Sebastián M, Gladun E, Rink E, Broderstadt AR, Dagsvold I, Siri S, Ottendahl CB, Olesen I, Zatseva L, Young RI, Chaliak AJ, Ophus E, Stoor JPA. Public health restrictions, directives, and measures in Arctic countries in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Circumpolar Health 2023; 82:2271211. [PMID: 37898999 PMCID: PMC10997298 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2023.2271211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Beginning January of 2020, COVID-19 cases detected in Arctic countries triggered government policy responses to stop transmission and limit caseloads beneath levels that would overwhelm existing healthcare systems. This review details the various restrictions, health mandates, and transmission mitigation strategies imposed by governments in eight Arctic countries (the United States, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Russia) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, through 31 January 2021s31 January 2021. We highlight formal protocols and informal initiatives adopted by local communities in each country, beyond what was mandated by regional or national governments. This review documents travel restrictions, communications, testing strategies, and use of health technology to track and monitor COVID-19 cases. We provide geographical and sociocultural background and draw on local media and communications to contextualise the impact of COVID-19 emergence and prevention measures in Indigenous communities in the Arctic. Countries saw varied case rates associated with local protocols, governance, and population. Still, almost all regions maintained low COVID-19 case rates until November of 2020. This review was produced as part of an international collaboration to identify community-driven, evidence-based promising practices and recommendations to inform pan-Arctic collaboration and decision making in public health during global emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malory Peterson
- Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Helena, USA
| | | | - Katie Cueva
- Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Josée G. Lavoie
- Ongomiizwin Research, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Christina VL Larsen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Lára Jóhannsdóttir
- Environment and Natural Resources Programme, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - David Cook
- Environment and Natural Resources Programme, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Lena Maria Nilsson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Arja Rautio
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ulla Timlin
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Miguel San Sebastián
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elena Gladun
- Institute of State and Law, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia
| | - Elizabeth Rink
- Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Helena, USA
| | - Ann Ragnhild Broderstadt
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Inger Dagsvold
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Susanna Siri
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Ingelise Olesen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Health and Nature, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Larisa Zatseva
- Institute of State and Law, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia
| | | | | | - Emily Ophus
- Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, Nunavut, Canada
| | - Jon Petter A. Stoor
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Lávvuo-Research and Education for Sámi Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Centre for Sámi Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Palaniswamy S, Abass K, Rysä J, Grimalt JO, Odland JØ, Rautio A, Järvelin MR. Investigating the relationship between non-occupational pesticide exposure and metabolomic biomarkers. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1248609. [PMID: 37900012 PMCID: PMC10602903 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1248609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between pesticide exposures and metabolomics biomarkers is not well understood. We examined the changes in the serum metabolome (early biomarkers) and the metabolic pathways associated with various pesticide exposure scenarios (OPE: overall exposure, PEM: exposure in months, PEY: exposure in years, and PEU: reported specific pesticides use) using data from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 31-year cross-sectional examination. We utilized questionnaire data on pesticide exposures and serum samples for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics analyses. For exposures and metabolites associations, participants size varied between 2,361 and 5,035. To investigate associations between metabolomics biomarkers and exposure to pesticide scenarios compared to those who reported no exposures multivariable regression analyses stratified by sex and adjustment with covariates (season of pesticide use, socioeconomic position (SEP), alcohol consumption, BMI, and latitude of residence) were performed. Multiple testing by Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) correction applied. Pesticide exposures differed by sex, season of pesticide use, alcohol, SEP, latitude of residence. Our results showed that all pesticide exposure scenarios were negatively associated with decreased HDL concentrations across all lipoprotein subclasses in women. OPE, PEY, and PEU were associated with decreased branched-chain amino acid concentrations in men and decreased albumin concentrations in women. OPE, PEY and PEU were also associated with changes in glycolysis metabolites and ketone bodies in both sexes. Specific pesticides exposure was negatively associated with sphingolipids and inflammatory biomarkers in men. In women, OPE, PEM, and PEU were associated with decreased apolipoprotein A1 and increased apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio. Our findings suggest that identification of early biomarkers of disease risk related to pesticide exposures can inform strategies to reduce exposure and investigate causal pathways. Women may be more susceptible to non-occupational pesticide exposures when compared to men, and future sex-specific studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Palaniswamy
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jaana Rysä
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Joan O. Grimalt
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Arja Rautio
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Thule Institute, University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Unit of Primary Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, United Kingdom
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Emelyanova A, Savolainen A, Oksanen A, Nieminen P, Loginova O, Abass K, Rautio A. Research on Selected Wildlife Infections in the Circumpolar Arctic-A Bibliometric Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:11260. [PMID: 36141528 PMCID: PMC9517571 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
One Health, a multidisciplinary approach to public health, which integrates human, animal, and environmental studies, is prudent for circumpolar Arctic health research. The objective of our bibliometric review was to identify and compare research in select infectious diseases in Arctic wildlife species with importance to human health indexed in English language databases (PubMed, Scopus) and the Russian database eLibrary.ru. Included articles (in English and Russian languages) needed to meet the following criteria: (1) data comes from the Arctic, (2) articles report original research or surveillance reports, (3) articles were published between 1990 and 2018, and (4) research relates to naturally occurring infections. Of the included articles (total n = 352), most were from Russia (n = 131, 37%), Norway (n = 58, 16%), Canada (n = 39, 11%), and Alaska (n = 39, 11%). Frequently reported infectious agents among selected mammals were Trichinella spp. (n = 39), Brucella spp. (n = 25), rabies virus (n = 11), Echinococcus spp. (n = 10), and Francisella tularensis (n = 9). There were 25 articles on anthrax in eLibrary.ru, while there were none in the other two databases. We identified future directions where opportunities for further research, collaboration, systematic reviews, or monitoring programs are possible and needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Emelyanova
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu & University of the Arctic, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland
| | - Audrey Savolainen
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland
- Finnish Food Authority (FINPAR), Elektroniikkatie 3, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland
| | - Antti Oksanen
- Finnish Food Authority (FINPAR), Elektroniikkatie 3, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland
| | - Pentti Nieminen
- Medical Informatics and Data Analysis Research Group, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Olga Loginova
- Laboratory of Parasite Systematics and Evolution, Center for Parasitology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii Prospect 33, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu & University of the Arctic, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland
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Abass K, Unguryanu T, Junqué E, Mazej D, Tratnik JS, Horvat M, Grimalt JO, Myllynen P, Rautio A. Pilot study on the concentrations of organochlorine compounds and potentially toxic elements in pregnant women and local food items from the Finnish Lapland. Environ Res 2022; 211:113122. [PMID: 35314163 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the Arctic, main sources of persistent organic pollutants and potentially toxic elements are industry and agriculture in the lower latitudes. However, there are also local sources of pollution. Our study was focused on possible pollution in the Finnish Lapland, transferred from the Pechenganikel industrial complex located in the borders of Russia, Finland and Norway. Local food items and blood samples of pregnant women from the Inari municipality were collected and organochlorine compounds (OCs) and metal(oid)s analyzed. Most of the examined food samples showed detectable levels of these compounds. The mean concentrations of DDTs and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were higher in fish (0.18-0.32 ng/g and 0.34-0.64 ng/g, respectively), than in the other food groups (0.027-0.047 ng/g and 0.11-0.20 ng/g, respectively). PCBs were found at the highest concentrations in blood samples of the pregnant women, and congeners 153 and 118 were dominant. The mean concentration of PCB153, 0.29 μg/kg serum lipid, was lower than those described in many other studies. Concerning DDTs, the 4,4'-DDT/4,4'-DDE ratio, 0.092, in the blood samples was lower than that observed in the food items, 0.25-0.71, reflecting old uses of the DDT pesticide. None of the observed levels of selected potentially toxic elements in blood samples and in food items exceeded the known safe limits. Higher concentrations of PCB52 and γ-HCH were observed in the serum of pregnant women who consumed greater amounts of meat, and berries and mushrooms, respectively. The OC concentrations from the pregnant women currently studied were lower than those observed fourteen years ago with pregnant women from the same municipality. Compounds whose occurrence is likely related to a long-distance transport showed clear decreases, e.g., 63% for PCBs, and for those from pesticides, decreases were 93% and 97% for 4,4'-DDE and β-HCH, respectively. No obvious influence from the Pechenganikel complex is observed from the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland; Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, P.O. Box 32511, Menoufia, Egypt.
| | - Tatiana Unguryanu
- Department of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, Northern State Medical University, Troitsky Ave., 51, Arkhangelsk, 163000, Russia; Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Bolshaya Pirogovskaya str., 2, building 2, Moscow, 119435, Russia
| | - Eva Junqué
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona, 18, 08034, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Darja Mazej
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Joan O Grimalt
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Päivi Myllynen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Northern Finland Laboratory Centre NordLab, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland; Thule Institute and University of the Arctic, P.O. Box 7300, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
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Basu N, Abass K, Dietz R, Krümmel E, Rautio A, Weihe P. The impact of mercury contamination on human health in the Arctic: A state of the science review. Sci Total Environ 2022; 831:154793. [PMID: 35341859 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The 2021 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Mercury (Hg) Assessment is motivated by Arctic populations, and most notably Indigenous Peoples in the region, who are particularly vulnerable to Hg pollution. The objective of this review paper is to answer the following AMAP policy-relevant question: what is the human health impact of Hg pollution in the Arctic? In doing so, this state of the science review paper builds on information published 10 years ago in the last AMAP Hg assessment. The synthesized results demonstrate that: a) global influences (e.g., sources and transport pathways, biogeochemical processes, climate change, globalization) drive Hg exposures into human communities; b) Hg exposures are realized through dietary intake of certain country food items, and that new exposure science approaches are helping to deepen understandings; c) the nutritional and cultural benefits of country foods are immense, though a dietary transition is underway raising concerns over metabolic syndrome and broader issues of food security as well as cultural and social well-being; d) blood Hg measures are among the highest worldwide based on the results of human biomonitoring studies; e) Hg exposures are associated with adverse health outcomes across life stages (e.g., neurodevelopmental outcomes in young children to cardiovascular disease in adults); and f) risk communication needs to be balanced, targeted and clear, culturally appropriate, and be done collaboratively. These synthesized findings are particularly timely and policy-relevant given that the Minamata Convention entered into legal force worldwide in 2017 as a regulatory scheme to reduce the use and environmental release of Hg in order to protect human health and the environment. The Convention was influenced by health concerns raised by northern populations as indicated in the preamble text which makes reference to "the particular vulnerabilities of Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous communities".
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, Frederiksbirgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Eva Krümmel
- Inuit Circumpolar Council - Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and University of the Arctic, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pal Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; Center of Health Science, University of The Faroe Islands, J.C. Svabosgøta 14, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
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10
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Abass K, Reponen P, Alsanie WF, Rautio A, Pelkonen O. Characterization of furathiocarb metabolism in in vitro human liver microsomes and recombinant cytochrome P450 enzymes. Toxicol Rep 2022; 9:679-689. [PMID: 35399214 PMCID: PMC8989696 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Furathiocarb is a carbamate insecticide detected in ecosystems. Its main metabolite carbofuran has been alluded to affect birth outcomes and disturb hormone levels in humans. The metabolism of furathiocarb in humans has not been characterized. The metabolism studies were performed using hepatic microsomes from ten donors and fifteen human cDNA-expressed CYPs. The initial screening and identification of the metabolites were performed by LC-TOF. Quantifications and fragmentations were performed by LC/MS-MS. Furathiocarb was metabolized to eight phase I metabolites via two general pathways, carbofuran metabolic pathway and furathiocarb oxidation pathway. Six metabolites in the carbofuran metabolic pathway (carbofuran, 3-hydroxycarbofuran, 3-ketocarbofuran, 3-keto-7-phenolcarbofuran, 3-hydroxy-7-phenolcarbofuran, and 7-phenolcarbofuran) were identified with the help of authentic standards. The two unidentified metabolites in the furathiocarb oxidation pathway are probably hydroxylated and sulfoxidated derivatives of furathiocarb. The carbofuran metabolic pathway was more predominant than the furathiocarb oxidation pathway, ratios ranged from 24- to 115-fold in a 10-donor panel of hepatic microsomes. On the basis of recombinant CYP studies, the carbofuran pathway was dominated by CYP3A4 (95.9%); contributions by CYP1A2 (1.3%) and CYP2B6 (2.0%) were minor. The minor furathiocarb oxidation pathway was catalyzed by CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 (hydroxylated/sulfoxidated metabolite A) and by CYP3A5, CYP3A4 and CYP2A6 (metabolite B). High and significant correlation between carbofuran metabolic pathway and CYP3A4 marker activities (midazolam-1'-hydroxylation and omeprazole-sulfoxidation) were observed. Ketoconazole, a CYP3A4-inhibitor, inhibited the carbofuran pathway by 32–86% and hydroxylated/sulfoxidated metabolite-B formations by 41–62%. The data suggest that in humans, the carbofuran metabolic pathway is dominant, and CYP3A4 is the major enzyme involved. These results provide useful scientific information for furathiocarb risk assessment in humans. Eight Phase I metabolites were detected by LC-TOF-MS/MS. The carbofuran pathway was more rapid than the furathiocarb oxidation pathway The carbofuran pathway was dominated by CYP3A4 (96%). Ketoconazole inhibited the carbofuran pathway by 32–86%. The findings provide useful scientific information for furathiocarb risk assessment in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014, Finland
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland
- Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, P.O. Box 32511, Egypt
- Correspondence to: Faculty of Medicine, Arctic Health, University of Oulu, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.
| | - Petri Reponen
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland
| | - Walaa F. Alsanie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences & Centre of Biomedical Sciences Research (CBSR), Taif University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014, Finland
- Thule Institute, University of the Arctic, Oulu FI-90014, Finland
| | - Olavi Pelkonen
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland
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Audouze K, Zgheib E, Abass K, Baig AH, Forner-Piquer I, Holbech H, Knapen D, Leonards PEG, Lupu DI, Palaniswamy S, Rautio A, Sapounidou M, Martin OV. Evidenced-Based Approaches to Support the Development of Endocrine-Mediated Adverse Outcome Pathways: Challenges and Opportunities. Front Toxicol 2022; 3:787017. [PMID: 35295112 PMCID: PMC8915810 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2021.787017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Elias Zgheib
- Université de Paris, T3S, Inserm U1124, Paris, France
| | - Khaled Abass
- Thule Institute, University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Asma H Baig
- Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Forner-Piquer
- Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Henrik Holbech
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Dries Knapen
- Zebrafishlab, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Pim E G Leonards
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Diana I Lupu
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Saranya Palaniswamy
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute, University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Maria Sapounidou
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Olwenn V Martin
- Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
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12
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Abass K, Reponen P, Alsanie WF, Rautio A, Pelkonen O. Metabolic profiling and in vitro-in vivo extrapolation of furathiocarb in mammalian hepatic microsomes. Toxicol Rep 2022; 9:750-758. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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13
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Xu S, Hansen S, Rautio A, Järvelin MR, Abass K, Rysä J, Palaniswamy S, Huber S, Grimalt JO, Dumas P, Odland JØ. Monitoring temporal trends of dioxins, organochlorine pesticides and chlorinated paraffins in pooled serum samples collected from Northern Norwegian women: The MISA cohort study. Environ Res 2022; 204:111980. [PMID: 34474033 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous presence of legacy and emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environmental matrices poses a potential hazard to the humans and creating public health concerns. The present study aimed to evaluate dioxins, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and chlorinated paraffins (CPs) concentrations in serum of women (postpartum, pregnant and non-pregnant) from Northern Norway to better understand their exposure and contamination status as well as temporal trends across 2007-2009 (MISA 1) to 2019 (MISA 2). Sixty-two blood samples from the MISA 1 cohort and 38 samples from MISA 2 were randomly selected in this study (n = 100). Ninety samples from postpartum (MISA 1) and pregnant women (MISA 2) were randomly combined into 9 pools, with 9-11 individual samples contributing to each pool keeping the groups of pregnant and postpartum women. Remaining 10 samples from non-pregnant women (MISA 2) were allocated into separate group. Geometric mean, minimum and maximum were used to describe the serum concentrations of pooled POPs in MISA cohort. Mann-Whitney U test and independent sample t-test were applied for trend analysis of blood levels of POPs between MISA 1 and MISA 2. We found the serum concentrations of selected POPs in this study to be at lower range. Serum concentrations of dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) (p = 0.010), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) (p = 0.002), dioxins-like PCBs (p = 0.001), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (p < 0.001) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) (p = 0.002) were decreased between the studied time. In contrast, the serum concentrations of medium chain chlorinated paraffins showed an increasing trend between 2007 and 2009 and 2019 (p = 0.019). Our findings report a particular concern of emerging contaminant medium chain chlorinated paraffin exposure to humans. Future observational studies with repeated measurements of chlorinated paraffins in general populations worldwide and large sample size are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Xu
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, 7491, Norway
| | - Solrunn Hansen
- Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Thule Institute, University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Unit of Primary Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Jaana Rysä
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Saranya Palaniswamy
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Huber
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Sykehusveien 38, Tromsø, NO-9038, Norway
| | - Joan O Grimalt
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08034, Spain
| | - Pierre Dumas
- Institut Nacional de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec City, Canada
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, 7491, Norway; Department of General Hygiene I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, 119992, Russia.
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Golubeva E, Emelyanova A, Kharkova O, Rautio A, Soloviev A. Caregiving of Older Persons during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Russian Arctic Province: Challenges and Practice. IJERPH 2022; 19:ijerph19052775. [PMID: 35270466 PMCID: PMC8910666 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Older people and their families were particularly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but not much is known about the context of the Arctic regions of Russia. In this study, we identified the changes in family care before and during the pandemic using a questionnaire for the informal caregivers of older people. We investigated how and to what extent the pandemic has affected the relationships between caregiver and older person, and how the mental and physical health of older people and caregivers were affected by self-isolation in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia. The pandemic has changed the contribution of care from various actors: the share of care by charities, churches, and other aid agencies increased, while that of municipal services decreased. Sixteen percent of female and forty percent of male caregivers informed the study that COVID-19-related restrictions led to deterioration in the health of older people cared for at home. Family caregivers’ own health worsened, especially mental health: 28% of caregivers reported aggravated stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed various fears. Our data show that the main resources in overcoming the period of self-isolation have been telephone communication, personal contact, reading/music, friends, as well as the help of social services and maintaining a positive attitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Golubeva
- Department of Social Work and Social Security, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, Northern Dvina Embankment, 17, 163002 Arkhangelsk, Russia;
| | - Anastasia Emelyanova
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu & University of the Arctic, Paavo Havaksen Tie 3, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Olga Kharkova
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Northern State Medical University, 51, Troitsky Avenue, 163061 Arkhangelsk, Russia; (O.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu & University of the Arctic, Paavo Havaksen Tie 3, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland;
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Andrey Soloviev
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Northern State Medical University, 51, Troitsky Avenue, 163061 Arkhangelsk, Russia; (O.K.); (A.S.)
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15
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Abass K, Pelkonen O, Rautio A. Corrigendum to: Chloro-s-triazenes-toxicokinetic, Toxicodynamic, Human Exposure, and Regulatory Considerations. Curr Drug Metab 2022; 22:996. [PMID: 34989331 DOI: 10.2174/138920022212211220114628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
An error appeared in the graphical abstract and figure no. 1 of the article entitled "Chloro-s-triazines-toxicokinetic, toxicodynamic, human exposure, and regulatory considerations" by Khaled Abass, Olavi Pelkonen and Arja Rautio, Current Drug Metabolism 2021, 22(8), 645-656. We regret the error and apologize to readers. The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.2174/1389200222666210701164945.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014, Finland
- Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, P.O. Box 32511, Egypt
| | - Olavi Pelkonen
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014, Finland
- Thule Institute, University of the Arctic, Rovaniemi, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014, Finland
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16
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Sripada K, Wierzbicka A, Abass K, Grimalt JO, Erbe A, Röllin HB, Weihe P, Díaz GJ, Singh RR, Visnes T, Rautio A, Odland JØ, Wagner M. A Children's Health Perspective on Nano- and Microplastics. Environ Health Perspect 2022; 130:15001. [PMID: 35080434 PMCID: PMC8791070 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy, infancy, and childhood are sensitive windows for environmental exposures. Yet the health effects of exposure to nano- and microplastics (NMPs) remain largely uninvestigated or unknown. Although plastic chemicals are a well-established research topic, the impacts of plastic particles are unexplored, especially with regard to early life exposures. OBJECTIVES This commentary aims to summarize the knowns and unknowns around child- and pregnancy-relevant exposures to NMPs via inhalation, placental transfer, ingestion and breastmilk, and dermal absorption. METHODS A comprehensive literature search to map the state of the science on NMPs found 37 primary research articles on the health relevance of NMPs during early life and revealed major knowledge gaps in the field. We discuss opportunities and challenges for quantifying child-specific exposures (e.g., NMPs in breastmilk or infant formula) and health effects, in light of global inequalities in baby bottle use, consumption of packaged foods, air pollution, hazardous plastic disposal, and regulatory safeguards. We also summarize research needs for linking child health and NMP exposures and address the unknowns in the context of public health action. DISCUSSION Few studies have addressed child-specific sources of exposure, and exposure estimates currently rely on generic assumptions rather than empirical measurements. Furthermore, toxicological research on NMPs has not specifically focused on child health, yet children's immature defense mechanisms make them particularly vulnerable. Apart from few studies investigating the placental transfer of NMPs, the physicochemical properties (e.g., polymer, size, shape, charge) driving the absorption, biodistribution, and elimination in early life have yet to be benchmarked. Accordingly, the evidence base regarding the potential health impacts of NMPs in early life remains sparse. Based on the evidence to date, we provide recommendations to fill research gaps, stimulate policymakers and industry to address the safety of NMPs, and point to opportunities for families to reduce early life exposures to plastic. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9086.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kam Sripada
- Centre for Digital Life Norway, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Aneta Wierzbicka
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Centre for Healthy Indoor Environments, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Joan O. Grimalt
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Andreas Erbe
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Halina B. Röllin
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Environment and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Pál Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Faroese Hospital System, Faroe Islands
| | - Gabriela Jiménez Díaz
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Randolph Reyes Singh
- Laboratoire Biogéochimie des Contaminants Organiques, Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer, Nantes, France
| | - Torkild Visnes
- Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF Industry, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Thule Institute, University of Oulu and University of the Arctic, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of General Hygiene, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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Palaniswamy S, Abass K, Rysä J, Odland JØ, Grimalt JO, Rautio A, Järvelin MR. Non-occupational exposure to pesticides and health markers in general population in Northern Finland: Differences between sexes. Environ Int 2021; 156:106766. [PMID: 34271428 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occupational exposure to pesticides has been reported among general population worldwide. However, little is known about the associations between non-occupational exposure to pesticides, and biological markers of health and their response by sex. OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the associations between non-occupational overall pesticide exposure, length of exposure and specific pesticides reported with 35 biological markers of health representing cardiometabolic, haematological, lung function, sex hormones, liver and kidney function profiles, and vitamin D in Finnish cohort. METHODS 31-year cross-sectional examination of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 provided blood samples for biomarker measurements in 1997-1998. Number of subjects varied between 2361 and 5037 for given exposures and certain outcome associations. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to examine associations between overall pesticide exposure (OPE), length of pesticide exposure in months (PEM), in years (PEY), and specific pesticides use (PEU) or not with cardiometabolic [SBP, DBP, TC, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, HOMA-S, hs-CRP], hematological [WBC, RBC, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, platelets], lung function (FVC, FEV1), sex hormones [luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (TT), sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG)], liver and kidney function profiles [total protein, albumin, globulin, ALP, ALT, GGT, urea, creatinine], and vitamin D adjusting for sex, BMI, socioeconomic position (SEP) and season of pesticide use. RESULTS This cohort study on up to 5037 adults with non-occupational OPE, PEM, PEY and PEU differed by sex and SEP. In regression analyses, all the exposures were positively associated with total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and PEU was negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in females. OPE and PEM were positively associated with haematocrit in females and PEU with platelets in males. PEU was negatively associated with mean corpuscular haemoglobin. OPE and PEM were positively associated with LH in males. OPE was negatively associated with total protein and albumin in males. DISCUSSION In Finnish young adults, non-occupational overall pesticide exposure, length of exposure and specific pesticides were associated with multiple biological markers of health. The biological markers seem to be indicative of adverse effects of pesticides and warrant for further studies to replicate the findings and determine the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Palaniswamy
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Jaana Rysä
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- NTNU The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of General Hygiene, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Joan O Grimalt
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Thule Institute, University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Unit of Primary Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, United Kingdom.
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Abass K, Pelkonen O, Rautio A. Chloro-s-triazenes - toxicokinetic, toxicodynamic, human exposure, and regulatory considerations. Curr Drug Metab 2021; 22:645-656. [PMID: 34218777 PMCID: PMC8811613 DOI: 10.2174/1389200222666210701164945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chloro-s-triazines-atrazine, cyanazine, propazine, simazine, and terbuthylazine-are structurally similar herbicides, differing only in specific s-triazine4-and 6-N alkyl substituents. It is generally regarded that their toxicokinetics, such as, metabolic pathways, biological effects and toxicities, also share more similar features than the differences. Consequently, it is useful to compare their characteristics to potentially find useful structure-activity relationships or other similarities or differences regarding different active compounds, their metabolites, and biological effects including toxic outcomes. The ultimate goal of these exercises is to apply the summarized knowledge-as far as it is possible regarding a patchy and often inadequate database-to cross the in vitro-in vivo and animal-human borders and integrate the available data to enhance toxicological risk assessment for the benefit of humans and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Olavi Pelkonen
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Research Unit of Biomedicine, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 7300, FI-90014, University of Oulu, Finland
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Adlard B, Lemire M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Long M, Ólafsdóttir K, Odland JO, Rautio A, Myllynen P, Sandanger TM, Dudarev AA, Bergdahl IA, Wennberg M, Berner J, Ayotte P. MercuNorth - monitoring mercury in pregnant women from the Arctic as a baseline to assess the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention. Int J Circumpolar Health 2021; 80:1881345. [PMID: 34080521 PMCID: PMC8183506 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2021.1881345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to mercury (Hg) is a global concern, particularly among Arctic populations that rely on the consumption of marine mammals and fish which are the main route of Hg exposure for Arctic populations.The MercuNorth project was created to establish baseline Hg levels across several Arctic regions during the period preceding the Minamata Convention. Blood samples were collected from 669 pregnant women, aged 18-44 years, between 2010 and 2016 from sites across the circumpolar Arctic including Alaska (USA), Nunavik (Canada), Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Northern Lapland (Finland) and Murmansk Oblast (Russia). Descriptive statistics were calculated, multiple pairwise comparisons were made between regions, and unadjusted linear trend analyses were performed.Geometric mean concentrations of total Hg were highest in Nunavik (5.20 µg/L) and Greenland (3.79 µg/L), followed by Alaska (2.13 µg/L), with much lower concentrations observed in the other regions (ranged between 0.48 and 1.29 µg/L). In Nunavik, Alaska and Greenland, blood Hg concentrations have decreased significantly since 1992, 2000 and 2010 respectively with % annual decreases of 4.7%, 7.5% and 2.7%, respectively.These circumpolar data combined with fish and marine mammal consumption data can be used for assessing long-term Hg trends and the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Adlard
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe Santé Des Populations Et Pratiques Optimales En Santé, Centre De Recherche Du CHU De Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département De Médecine Sociale Et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Eva C Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Center for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Greenland Center for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Manhai Long
- Center for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Kristín Ólafsdóttir
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jon O Odland
- Institute of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,International Research Laboratory for Reproductive Ecotoxicology (IL RET), The National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and University of Arctic, Oulu, Finland
| | - Päivi Myllynen
- Northern Finland Laboratory Centre Nordlab, Northern Finland Laboratory Centre Nordlab, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Torkjel M Sandanger
- Environmental Chemistry Department, NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, the Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Community Medicine, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromso, Norway
| | - Alexey A Dudarev
- Department of Arctic Environmental Health, Northwest Public Health Research Center, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ingvar A Bergdahl
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Maria Wennberg
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - James Berner
- Department of Environment and Health, Division of Community Health, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe Santé Des Populations Et Pratiques Optimales En Santé, Centre De Recherche Du CHU De Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département De Médecine Sociale Et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Centre De Toxicologie, Institut National De Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
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20
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Eriksen H, Rautio A, Johnson R, Koepke C, Rink E. Ethical considerations for community-based participatory research with Sami communities in North Finland. Ambio 2021; 50:1222-1236. [PMID: 33454885 PMCID: PMC8068735 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01459-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the perspectives of Sami community members and university researchers regarding the ethical considerations for engagement in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) with Sami communities in northern Finland. Key informant interviews were conducted with Sami people from Finland who were exposed to or participated in research in their communities as well as with researchers who have conducted research with the Sami in Finland across diverse topics. Five themes were identified: establishing trust, research preparation, research comprehension, research ethics, and inclusion in research. The differences in participant perspectives were compared based on their community versus researcher roles. Our findings emphasize the need for (1) strategies to develop and maintain trust between Sami communities and researchers; (2) methods to bridge concepts of bias projected onto Sami communities and researchers by the others' differing world views and beliefs about research; and (3) increased education in community-engaged methods for social and natural scientists working with Sami communities. This study supports the need for the development of formalized ethical protocols for conducting community-based engaged research with and for Sami people in Finland that ensure mutually beneficial research for all involved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arja Rautio
- University of Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Rhonda Johnson
- University of Alaska Anchorage, BOC3, Suite 220, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4614 USA
| | - Catherine Koepke
- University of Alaska Anchorage, BOC3, Suite 220, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4614 USA
| | - Elizabeth Rink
- Montana State University, 318C Herrick Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717-3540 USA
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21
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22
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Timlin U, Ingimundarson JH, Jungsberg L, Kauppila S, Larsen JN, Nordström T, Scheer J, Schweitzer P, Rautio A. Living conditions and mental wellness in a changing climate and environment: focus on community voices and perceived environmental and adaptation factors in Greenland. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06862. [PMID: 33997395 PMCID: PMC8105633 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change is a major global challenge, especially for Indigenous communities. It can have extensive impacts on peoples' lives that may occur through the living environment, health and mental well-being, and which are requiring constant adaptation. OBJECTIVES The overall purpose of this research was to evaluate the impacts of climate change and permafrost thaw on mental wellness in Disko Bay, Greenland. It contained two parts: multidisciplinary fieldwork and a questionnaire survey. The aim of the fieldwork was to learn about life and living conditions and to understand what it is like to live in a community that faces impacts of climate change and permafrost thaw. For the questionnaire the aim was to find out which perceived environmental and adaptation factors relate to very good self-rated well-being, quality of life and satisfaction with life. ANALYSIS Fieldwork data was analyzed by following a thematic analysis, and questionnaire data statistically by cross-tabulation. First, the associations between perceived environmental and adaptation factors were studied either by the Pearson χ2 test or by Fisher's exact test. Second, binary logistic regression analysis was applied to examine more in depth the associations between perceived environmental/adaptation variables and self-rated very good well-being, satisfaction with life and quality of life. The binary logistic regression analysis was conducted in two phases: as univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Nature and different activities in nature were found to be important to local people, and results suggest that they increase mental wellness, specifically well-being and satisfaction with life. Challenges associated with permafrost thaw, such as changes in the physical environment, infrastructure and impacts on culture were recognized in everyday life. CONCLUSIONS The results offer relevant information for further plans and actions in this field of research and at the policy level. Our study shows the importance of multidisciplinary research which includes the voice of local communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulla Timlin
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Leneisja Jungsberg
- Copenhagen University, Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Denmark
- Nordregio, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Johanna Scheer
- Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Peter Schweitzer
- University of Vienna, Austria
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA
| | - Arja Rautio
- University of Arctic, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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23
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Callaghan TV, Kulikova O, Rakhmanova L, Topp-Jørgensen E, Labba N, Kuhmanen LA, Kirpotin S, Shaduyko O, Burgess H, Rautio A, Hindshaw RS, Golubyatnikov LL, Marshall GJ, Lobanov A, Soromotin A, Sokolov A, Sokolova N, Filant P, Johansson M. Improving dialogue among researchers, local and indigenous peoples and decision-makers to address issues of climate change in the North. Ambio 2020; 49:1161-1178. [PMID: 31721066 PMCID: PMC7128002 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01277-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The Circumpolar North has been changing rapidly within the last decades, and the socioeconomic systems of the Eurasian Arctic and Siberia in particular have displayed the most dramatic changes. Here, anthropogenic drivers of environmental change such as migration and industrialization are added to climate-induced changes in the natural environment such as permafrost thawing and increased frequency of extreme events. Understanding and adapting to both types of changes are important to local and indigenous peoples in the Arctic and for the wider global community due to transboundary connectivity. As local and indigenous peoples, decision-makers and scientists perceive changes and impacts differently and often fail to communicate efficiently to respond to changes adequately, we convened a meeting of the three groups in Salekhard in 2017. The outcomes of the meeting include perceptions of how the three groups each perceive the main issues affecting health and well-being and recommendations for working together better.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry V. Callaghan
- University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenina Pr, Tomsk, Russia 634050
| | - Olga Kulikova
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenina Pr, Tomsk, Russia 634050
- University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North, Russian Academy of Sciences, Portovaya Street 18, Magadan, Russia 685000
| | - Lidia Rakhmanova
- 28 Promyshlennaya str, Saint-Petersburg, Russia 190121
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenina Pr, Tomsk, Russia 634050
| | - Elmer Topp-Jørgensen
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Center, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, Building 7418, I2.41, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Niklas Labba
- Centre for Sámi Studies, University of Tromsø, Postboks 6050, Langnes, 9037 Tromsö, Norway
| | | | | | - Olga Shaduyko
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenina Pr, Tomsk, Russia 634050
| | - Henry Burgess
- British Antarctic Survey, UK Natural Environment Research Council Arctic Office, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu and University of the Arctic, P.O. Box 7300 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | | | | | - Gareth J. Marshall
- British Antarctic Survey, UK Natural Environment Research Council Arctic Office, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
| | - Andrey Lobanov
- Arctic Research Centre of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Line 8, Nadym, Russia 629730
| | - Andrey Soromotin
- Research Institute of Ecology and Natural Resources Management, Tumen State University, 6 Volodarskogo St, Tyumen, Russia 625003
| | - Alexander Sokolov
- Arctic Research Station, Institute of Plant & Animal Ecology Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 21, Str. Zelenaya Gorka, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
- Arctic Research Center of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, 73, Str. Respublika, Salekhard, Russia 629008
| | - Natalia Sokolova
- Arctic Research Station, Institute of Plant & Animal Ecology Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 21, Str. Zelenaya Gorka, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
- Arctic Research Center of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, 73, Str. Respublika, Salekhard, Russia 629008
| | - Praskovia Filant
- Reindeer Herders Association of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, of. 35, 41 Sverdlov Str, Salekhard, Russia 629007
| | - Margareta Johansson
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Solvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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24
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Abass K, Emelyanova A, Rautio A. Correction to: Temporal trends of contaminants in Arctic human populations. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019; 26:22101. [PMID: 31127525 PMCID: PMC6828227 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05377-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The article Temporal trends of contaminants in Arctic human populations, written by Khaled Abass, Anastasia Emelyanova and Arja Rautio, was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on 25 August 2018 without open access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland.
- Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, P.O. Box 32511, Menoufia, Egypt.
| | | | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
- Thule Institute & University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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25
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Kuusikko-Gauffin S, Elsheikh S, Bölte S, Omar M, Riad G, Ebeling H, Rautio A, Moilanen I. Emotion recognition from the eye region in children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder in Arab and Scandinavian countries. Scand J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Psychol 2019; 6:159-169. [PMID: 33520762 PMCID: PMC7703843 DOI: 10.21307/sjcapp-2018-015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Difficulties in facial emotion recognition (ER) skills are linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in studies performed in Western and Eastern Asian countries. However, there is a paucity of research examining ER skills in Arab countries, where face-covering veils are more common than in Western countries. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to examine basic ER and ER error patterns in Egyptian and Finnish children with and without ASD. METHOD We employed the eye-submodule of the Frankfurt Test and Training of Facial Affect Recognition (FEFA) and the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ). RESULTS Arab children with ASD (n = 34, M age = 8.6 years, FSIQ = 96.7) recognized correctly fewer emotions than did Scandinavian children with ASD (n = 32, M age = 12.5 years, FSIQ = 102.8) and Arab typically developing (TD) children (n = 34, M age = 10.3 years, FSIQ = 123.4) in general and specifically on surprise, disgust and neutral scales as well as on a blended emotion scale. Scandinavian children with ASD demonstrated a lower ability to recognize emotions in general and specifically happiness than did Scandinavian TD children. There were no differences between Arab and Scandinavian (n = 28, M age = 13.9 years) TD children in ER accuracy. We found country specific differences in ER error patterns in happiness, sadness and anger: Arab children interpreted these emotions more often as another emotion (happiness = sadness, sadness = anger, anger = sadness and surprise), whereas Scandinavian children interpreted happiness and sadness as neutral expression and anger as disgust. Arab children with ASD labeled sadness and anger in their ER error patterns more negatively than did Arab TD children, but there were no differences between Scandinavian children with ASD and TD in ER error patterns. CONCLUSIONS The differences between the Arab and Scandinavian children may reflect cultural differences in ER and ER error patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna Kuusikko-Gauffin
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sherin Elsheikh
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Child Psychiatry Unit, Abbassia Mental Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sven Bölte
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Manal Omar
- Institute of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Geylan Riad
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology Department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hanna Ebeling
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine and Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Irma Moilanen
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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26
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Palaniswamy S, Piltonen T, Koiranen M, Mazej D, Järvelin MR, Abass K, Rautio A, Sebert S. The association between blood copper concentration and biomarkers related to cardiovascular disease risk - analysis of 206 individuals in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2019; 51:12-18. [PMID: 30466920 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Copper is an abundant trace element in humans where alterations in the circulating concentration could inform on chronic disease aetiology. To date, data are lacking to study how copper may associate with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in young and healthy population. Molecular evidence suggests an important role of copper in liver metabolism, an essential organ in maintaining cardiovascular health and inflammation, therefore supporting copper as an associated biomarker of the risk. OBJECTIVE We performed a cross-sectional analysis to examine the possible associations between blood copper levels and risk factors for CVD and pre-inflammatory process. DESIGN The data has been collected from a sub-sample set of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) at 31 years. PARTICIPANTS The study included 206 individuals, 116 men and 90 women. To reduce environmental individual variations affecting both copper and the metabolic profile in the study sample, the participants were selected as: i) being born in Finnish Lapland and ii) living in their birth place for the last five years preceding blood sampling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Fasting blood copper concentration was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The CVD risk factors included 6 metabolic clusters (30 cardiovascular and pro-inflammatory factors) assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to test the linear association between blood copper and 6 metabolic clusters for CVD risk. Associations were assessed under correction for multiple testing. RESULTS Copper (Cu) levels were comparable in men and women, with no difference between sexes (p-value <0.60). In multiple regression models, sex adjusted, copper was associated with 9 metabolites from 4 metabolic clusters. After adjustment with BMI, copper was associated with 4 metabolites from 3 metabolic clusters: glutamine, beta-hydroxybutyrate, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). After correction for multiple testing, Cu was found positively associated with only 2 biomarkers of inflammation including AGP [p = 0.04] and hs-CRP [p = 0.0001]. CONCLUSIONS Considering the strength and limitation of the study design, the present study does not support evidence for an independent role of copper on biomarkers for CVD risk. Nevertheless, we are reporting a robust association of copper with the inflammatory load that is important to consider in light with the inflammatory component of chronic health. In addition, the association of copper with metabolites may be attributable to BMI or environmental factors associated to it, and warrants further research in large population samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Palaniswamy
- Center For Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Terhi Piltonen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu and PEDEGO Research Unit, P.O. Box 23, FI-90029, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Markku Koiranen
- Center For Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Darja Mazej
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
- Center For Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; Oulu University Hospital, Unit of Primary Care, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland; Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Sylvain Sebert
- Center For Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland; Department of Genomics of Complex Diseases, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
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Waits A, Emelyanova A, Oksanen A, Abass K, Rautio A. Human infectious diseases and the changing climate in the Arctic. Environ Int 2018; 121:703-713. [PMID: 30317100 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Climatic factors, especially temperature, precipitation, and humidity play an important role in disease transmission. As the Arctic changes at an unprecedented rate due to climate change, understanding how climatic factors and climate change affect infectious disease rates is important for minimizing human and economic costs. The purpose of this systematic review was to compile recent studies in the field and compare the results to a previously published review. English language searches were conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PLOS One. Russian language searches were conducted in the Scientific Electronic Library "eLibrary.ru". This systematic review yielded 22 articles (51%) published in English and 21 articles (49%) published in Russian since 2012. Articles about zoonotic and vector-borne diseases accounted for 67% (n = 29) of the review. Tick-borne diseases, tularemia, anthrax, and vibriosis were the most researched diseases likely to be impacted by climatic factors in the Arctic. Increased temperature and precipitation are predicted to have the greatest impact on infectious diseases in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Waits
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Antti Oksanen
- Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira (FINPAR), 90590 Oulu, Finland
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland; Thule Institute, University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Finland
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Adlard B, Donaldson SG, Odland JO, Weihe P, Berner J, Carlsen A, Bonefeld-Jorgensen EC, Dudarev AA, Gibson JC, Krümmel EM, Olafsdottir K, Abass K, Rautio A, Bergdahl IA, Mulvad G. Future directions for monitoring and human health research for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. Glob Health Action 2018; 11:1480084. [PMID: 29943674 PMCID: PMC6022227 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2018.1480084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/30/2022] Open
Abstract
For the last two and a half decades, a network of human health experts under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) has produced several human health assessment reports. These reports have provided a base of scientific knowledge regarding environmental contaminants and their impact on human health in the Arctic. These reports provide scientific information and policy-relevant recommendations to Arctic governments. They also support international agreements such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Key topics discussed in this paper regarding future human health research in the circumpolar Arctic are continued contaminant biomonitoring, health effects research and risk communication. The objective of this paper is to describe knowledge gaps and future priorities for these fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Adlard
- a Health Canada , Ottawa , Canada
| | | | - J O Odland
- b Department of Community Medicine (UiT) , The Arctic University of Norway , Tromso , Norway
| | - P Weihe
- c Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health , The Faroese Hospital System , Torshavn , Faroe Islands
| | - J Berner
- d Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium , Anchorage , AK , USA
| | - A Carlsen
- e Department of Public Health , Aarhus University , Aarhus , Denmark
| | - E C Bonefeld-Jorgensen
- f Center for Arctic Health, Department of Public Health , Aarhus University , Aarhus , Denmark.,g Greenland Center for Health Research , Institute of Nursing and Health Science, University of Greenland , Nuuk , Greenland
| | - A A Dudarev
- h Northwest Public Health Research Center , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | | | - E M Krümmel
- i Inuit Circumpolar Council , Ottawa , Canada
| | - K Olafsdottir
- j Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , University of Iceland , Reykjavik , Iceland
| | - K Abass
- k Faculty of Medicine , Arctic Health, University of Oulu , Oulu , Finland
| | - A Rautio
- l Thule Institute and Faculty of Medicine , University of Oulu , Oulu , Finland
| | - I A Bergdahl
- m Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine , Umeå University , Sweden
| | - G Mulvad
- g Greenland Center for Health Research , Institute of Nursing and Health Science, University of Greenland , Nuuk , Greenland
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29
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Abass K, Emelyanova A, Rautio A. Temporal trends of contaminants in Arctic human populations. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:28834-28850. [PMID: 30145756 PMCID: PMC6592971 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2936-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The first Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) report was published in 1998 and followed by three assessment reports of human health (AMAP 2003, 2009 and 2015). The focus area of the AMAP reports was to monitor levels of environmental contaminants in the Arctic and to assess the health effects connected with detected levels in Arctic countries. This review gives an overview of temporal trends of contaminants and their health effects in humans of the Arctic based on data published by AMAP, as well as Russian scientific literature. Several time series of 31 contaminants in humans of the Arctic from different cohorts are reported. The lengths of time series and periods covered differ from each other. International restrictions have decreased the levels of most persistent organic pollutants in humans and food webs. Percentage changes for contaminants in human biological matrices (blood samples from children, mothers and males and breast milk samples) for the period of sampling showed declining trends in most of the monitored Arctic locations, with the exception of oxychlordane, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE153) and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland.
- Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, P.O. Box 32511, Menoufia, Egypt.
| | | | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
- Thule Institute & University of Arctic, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Carlsson P, Breivik K, Brorström-Lundén E, Cousins I, Christensen J, Grimalt JO, Halsall C, Kallenborn R, Abass K, Lammel G, Munthe J, MacLeod M, Odland JØ, Pawlak J, Rautio A, Reiersen LO, Schlabach M, Stemmler I, Wilson S, Wöhrnschimmel H. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as sentinels for the elucidation of Arctic environmental change processes: a comprehensive review combined with ArcRisk project results. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:22499-22528. [PMID: 29956262 PMCID: PMC6096556 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2625-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be used as chemical sentinels for the assessment of anthropogenic influences on Arctic environmental change. We present an overview of studies on PCBs in the Arctic and combine these with the findings from ArcRisk-a major European Union-funded project aimed at examining the effects of climate change on the transport of contaminants to and their behaviour of in the Arctic-to provide a case study on the behaviour and impact of PCBs over time in the Arctic. PCBs in the Arctic have shown declining trends in the environment over the last few decades. Atmospheric long-range transport from secondary and primary sources is the major input of PCBs to the Arctic region. Modelling of the atmospheric PCB composition and behaviour showed some increases in environmental concentrations in a warmer Arctic, but the general decline in PCB levels is still the most prominent feature. 'Within-Arctic' processing of PCBs will be affected by climate change-related processes such as changing wet deposition. These in turn will influence biological exposure and uptake of PCBs. The pan-Arctic rivers draining large Arctic/sub-Arctic catchments provide a significant source of PCBs to the Arctic Ocean, although changes in hydrology/sediment transport combined with a changing marine environment remain areas of uncertainty with regard to PCB fate. Indirect effects of climate change on human exposure, such as a changing diet will influence and possibly reduce PCB exposure for indigenous peoples. Body burdens of PCBs have declined since the 1980s and are predicted to decline further.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Knut Breivik
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 2027, Kjeller, Norway
| | | | - Ian Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, 11418, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jesper Christensen
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Joan O Grimalt
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), 0834, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Crispin Halsall
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Roland Kallenborn
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Sciences (KBM), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Christian Magnus Falsen Veg 1, 1432, Ås, Norway
- Department of Arctic Technology (AT), University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), 9171, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
| | - Khaled Abass
- Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, P.O. Box 32511, Shebeen El-Kom, Egypt
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Gerhard Lammel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128, Mainz, Germany
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - John Munthe
- IVL Swedish Environment Research Institute, 411 33, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Matthew MacLeod
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, 11418, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Janet Pawlak
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), AMAP Secretariat, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Lars-Otto Reiersen
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), AMAP Secretariat, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martin Schlabach
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 2027, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Irene Stemmler
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128, Mainz, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simon Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), AMAP Secretariat, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Henry Wöhrnschimmel
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, Worblentalstrasse 68, 3063, Ittigen, Switzerland
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Abass K, Huusko A, Knutsen HK, Nieminen P, Myllynen P, Meltzer HM, Vahakangas K, Rautio A. Quantitative estimation of mercury intake by toxicokinetic modelling based on total mercury levels in humans. Environ Int 2018; 114:1-11. [PMID: 29455008 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic metal that can be disseminated into the environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Human exposure to the metal stems mainly from food, and more particularly from the consumption of fish and other seafoods. Examining dietary exposure and measuring mercury levels in body tissues are two ways of estimating exposure to mercury. In this study, we utilized a modelling system consisting of three linear toxicokinetic models for describing the fate of methyl mercury, inorganic mercury, and metallic mercury in the body, in order to estimate daily intake of mercury as measured through total mercury concentrations in the blood. We then compared the results stemming from our modelling system to those of the detailed semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) of the Norwegian Fish and Game (NFG) Study, a project that focused on dietary mercury exposure. The results indicate that toxicokinetic modelling based on blood levels gave higher daily intake values of mercury compared to those of the FFQ. Furthermore, the former had a wider range of estimates than the latter. The properties of the toxicokinetic model or limitations in the dietary exposure assessment could be posited as reasons for the differences between the respective methods. Moreover, the results may have been influenced by sources of mercury exposure that cannot be described as dietary, such as amalgam fillings.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine; and Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland.
| | - A Huusko
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine; and Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - H K Knutsen
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - P Nieminen
- Medical Informatics and Statistics Research Group, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - P Myllynen
- Northern Laboratory Centre NordLab, Oulu FI-90220, Finland
| | - H M Meltzer
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - K Vahakangas
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy/Toxicology, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
| | - A Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine; and Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland
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Emelyanova A, Rautio A. A Century of Demographic Ageing in Arctic Canada (1950–2050). Population Ageing 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s12062-017-9211-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Soini HK, Karjalainen MK, Hinttala R, Rautio A, Hallman M, Uusimaa J. Mitochondrial hearing loss mutations among Finnish preterm and term-born infants. Audiol Res 2017; 7:189. [PMID: 29291046 PMCID: PMC5736999 DOI: 10.4081/audiores.2017.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Arja Rautio
- Faculty of Medicine, Arctic Health and Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland
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Liukkonen L, Rautio A, Sipilä T, Niemi M, Auttila M, Koskela J, Kunnasranta M. Long-term effects of land use on perinatal mortality in the Endangered Saimaa ringed seal population. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Nordström T, Hurtig T, Rodriguez A, Savolainen J, Rautio A, Moilanen I, Taanila A, Ebeling H. Different Risk Factors Between Disruptive Behavior Disorders and ADHD in Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. J Atten Disord 2017; 21:904-912. [PMID: 25001369 DOI: 10.1177/1087054714538654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine different risk factors between disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) and ADHD or combined DBD and ADHD. METHOD The study population was derived from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. Psychiatric diagnoses were defined from the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) interview. The study sample was divided into four groups-people with DBD ( n = 44), with ADHD ( n = 91), with both ( n = 72), and without either ( n = 250)-to evaluate the different risk factors behind these disorders. RESULTS After adjusting with possible confounding factors, female gender and paternal admittance to inpatient psychiatric care increased the odds that an adolescent was having DBD. Childhood hyperactivity symptoms increased the odds of having ADHD and childhood hyperactivity symptoms and scholastic impairment increased the odds of having both disorders. CONCLUSION Our study indicates DBD and ADHD have clearly different risk factors, and the impact of the paternal factors on DBD should be noted more than has been before.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tuula Hurtig
- 1 Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.,2 Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland
| | - Alina Rodriguez
- 3 Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.,4 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Arja Rautio
- 6 Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Irma Moilanen
- 2 Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland
| | - Anja Taanila
- 1 Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.,7 Primary Health Care Unit, University Hospital of Oulu, Finland
| | - Hanna Ebeling
- 2 Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland
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Hansen MD, Nøst TH, Heimstad ES, Evenset A, Dudarev AA, Rautio A, Myllynen P, Dushkina EV, Jagodic M, Christensen GN, Anda EE, Brustad M, Sandanger TM. The Impact of a Nickel-Copper Smelter on Concentrations of Toxic Elements in Local Wild Food from the Norwegian, Finnish, and Russian Border Regions. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017; 14:E694. [PMID: 28657608 PMCID: PMC5551132 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14070694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Toxic elements emitted from the Pechenganickel complex on the Kola Peninsula have caused concern about potential effects on local wild food in the border regions between Norway, Finland and Russia. The aim of this study was to assess Ni, Cu, Co, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg concentrations in local wild foods from these border regions. During 2013-2014, we collected samples of different berry, mushroom, fish, and game species from sites at varying distances from the Ni-Cu smelter in all three border regions. Our results indicate that the Ni-Cu smelter is the main source of Ni, Co, and As in local wild foods, whereas the sources of Pb and Cd are more complex. We observed no consistent trends for Cu, one of the main toxic elements emitted by the Ni-Cu smelter; nor did we find any trend for Hg in wild food. Concentrations of all investigated toxic elements were highest in mushrooms, except for Hg, which was highest in fish. EU maximum levels of Pb, Cd, and Hg were exceeded in some samples, but most had levels considered safe for human consumption. No international thresholds exist for the other elements under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine D Hansen
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Therese H Nøst
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Eldbjørg S Heimstad
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Anita Evenset
- Akvaplan-niva, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Alexey A Dudarev
- Hygiene Department, Northwest Public Health Research Centre (NWPHRC), St. Petersburg 191036, Russia.
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine and Thule Institute, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland.
| | - Päivi Myllynen
- Northern Laboratory Centre NordLab, FI-90220 Oulu, Finland.
| | - Eugenia V Dushkina
- Hygiene Department, Northwest Public Health Research Centre (NWPHRC), St. Petersburg 191036, Russia.
| | - Marta Jagodic
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | | | - Erik E Anda
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Magritt Brustad
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Torkjel M Sandanger
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
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Abass K, Koiranen M, Mazej D, Tratnik JS, Horvat M, Hakkola J, Järvelin MR, Rautio A. Arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury levels in blood of Finnish adults and their relation to diet, lifestyle habits and sociodemographic variables. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2017; 24:1347-1362. [PMID: 27778267 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7824-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Northern Finland Birth Cohort program (NFBC) is the epidemiological and longitudinal prospective general population research program, which was established to promote health and wellbeing of the population in northern Finland. The aim of present study, as a part of the NFBC program, was to analyze the blood levels of arsenic (B-As), cadmium (B-Cd), lead (B-Pb), total mercury (B-Hg) and selenium (B-Se); to compare these levels with threshold limits; to study sociodemographic factors; and to correlate these levels with calcium and haemoglobin. The study was comprised of 249 NFBC subjects, of which 123 were female and 126 were male (ages 31.1 ± 0.3 and 31.1 ± 0.4, respectively). All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding diet and living habits. The geometric means (± SD) of B-As were 0.49 ± 2.80 μg/l and 0.44 ± 2.72 μg/l; B-Cd were 0.18 ± 4.02 μg/l and 0.12 ± 3.21 μg/l; B-Pb were 17.0 ± 1.8 μg/l and 9.06 ± 2.20 μg/l; B-Hg were 2.18 ± 2.02 μg/l and 1.85 ± 1.78 μg/l; and B-Se were 106.0 ± 1.3 and 94.3 ± 1.3 μg/l in males and females, respectively. Among the subjects in the present analysis, 23 % of males and 17.1 % of females had B-As levels above the ATSDR normal human levels of B-As in unexposed individuals (1.0 μg/l). The B-Pb geometric mean (12.44 μg/l) was approximately one eighth the CDC toxicological cut-off point of 100 μg/l. Twenty-one individuals (8.4 %) exceeded a B-Hg level of 5.8 μg/l. Fifty-eight females (47 %) had a B-Hg higher than 2.0 μg/l, the German Federal Environmental Agency cut-off point for women (18-69 years) who consume fish at least three times/month; therefore, their babies could be at risk of adverse effects during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abass
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
- Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
- Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, P.O. Box 32511, Menoufia, Egypt.
| | - Markku Koiranen
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Darja Mazej
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jukka Hakkola
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocentre Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Arja Rautio
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Weihe P, Bjerregaard P, Bonefeld-Jørgensen E, Dudarev A, Halling J, Hansen S, Muckle G, Nøst T, Odland JØ, Petersen MS, Rautio A, Veyhe AS, Wennberg M, Bergdahl I. Overview of ongoing cohort and dietary studies in the Arctic. Int J Circumpolar Health 2016; 75:33803. [PMID: 27974135 PMCID: PMC5156866 DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v75.33803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This article gives an overview of the ongoing cohort and dietary studies underlying the assessment of population health in the Arctic. The emphasis here is on a description of the material, methods and results or preliminary results for each study. Detailed exposure information is available in an article in this journal, whereas another paper describes the effects associated with contaminant exposure in the Arctic. The cohort descriptions have been arranged geographically, beginning in Norway and moving east to Finland, Sweden, Russia and the other Arctic countries and ultimately to the Faroe Islands. No cohort studies have been reported for Alaska or Iceland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pál Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Torshavn, Faroe Islands;
| | - Peter Bjerregaard
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Eva Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alexey Dudarev
- Northwest Public Health Research Center, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Jónrit Halling
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Torshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Solrunn Hansen
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gina Muckle
- École de Psychologie, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Therese Nøst
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maria Skaalum Petersen
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Torshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anna Sofía Veyhe
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maria Wennberg
- Department of Biobank Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ingvar Bergdahl
- Department of Biobank Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Abstract
Studies on the precise impact of environmental pollutants on human health are difficult to undertake and interpret, because many genetic and environmental factors influence health at the same time and to varying degrees. Our chapter in the AMAP report was based on new approaches to describe risks and future needs. In this paper, we will introduce the issues associated with risk assessment of single chemicals, and present suggestions for future studies as well as a summary of lessons learned during the health-related parts of the European Union-funded FP7 project ArcRisk (Arctic Health Risks: Impacts on health in the Arctic and Europe owing to climate-induced changes in contaminant cycling, 2009–2014; www.arcrisk.eu).
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abass
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, Egypt; ;
| | - Anders Carlsen
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Arja Rautio
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Lépy É, Rantala S, Huusko A, Nieminen P, Hippi M, Rautio A. Role of Winter Weather Conditions and Slipperiness on Tourists' Accidents in Finland. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2016; 13:ijerph13080822. [PMID: 27537899 PMCID: PMC4997508 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13080822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: In Finland, slippery snowy or icy ground surface conditions can be quite hazardous to human health during wintertime. We focused on the impacts of the variability in weather conditions on tourists’ health via documented accidents during the winter season in the Sotkamo area. We attempted to estimate the slipping hazard in a specific context of space and time focusing on the weather and other possible parameters, responsible for fluctuations in the numbers of injuries/accidents; (2) Methods: We used statistical distributions with graphical illustrations to examine the distribution of visits to Kainuu Hospital by non-local patients and their characteristics/causes; graphs to illustrate the distribution of the different characteristics of weather conditions; questionnaires and interviews conducted among health care and safety personnel in Sotkamo and Kuusamo; (3) Results: There was a clear seasonal distribution in the numbers and types of extremity injuries of non-local patients. While the risk of slipping is emphasized, other factors leading to injuries are evaluated; and (4) Conclusions: The study highlighted the clear role of wintery weather conditions as a cause of extremity injuries even though other aspects must also be considered. Future scenarios, challenges and adaptive strategies are also discussed from the viewpoint of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élise Lépy
- Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland.
- Faculty of Medicine, Arctic Health, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland.
| | - Sinikka Rantala
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, 90220 Oulu, Finland.
| | - Antti Huusko
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland.
| | - Pentti Nieminen
- Medical Informatics and Statistics Group, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland.
| | - Marjo Hippi
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, 00560 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Arja Rautio
- Faculty of Medicine, Arctic Health, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland.
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland.
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Sieppi E, Vähäkangas K, Rautio A, Ietta F, Paulesu L, Myllynen P. The xenoestrogens, bisphenol A and para-nonylphenol, decrease the expression of the ABCG2 transporter protein in human term placental explant cultures. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2016; 429:41-9. [PMID: 27036933 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Many endogenous and xenobiotic compounds are substrates and regulators of human placental ABC transporters. ABCG2 is protecting fetus against foreign chemicals. Environmental xenoestrogens, like bisphenol A (BPA) and p-nonylphenol (p-NP), mimic natural estrogens and can affect hormonal systems. Effects of BPA, p-NP, DES (diethylstilbestrol) and estradiol (E2), on ABCG2 expression were studied using human first trimester and term placental explants. Role of estrogen receptors (ER) in the effects of chemicals was studied by ER antagonist. Term placenta expressed less ABCG2 protein. In term placentas BPA (p < 0.05), p-NP (p < 0.01) and E2 (p < 0.05) decreased the ABCG2 protein expression after 48 h exposure while after 24 h exposure, only E2 decreased the expression (p < 0.05). The chemicals did not affect ABCG2 in first trimester placentas. The ER antagonist affected differently the responses of chemicals. In conclusion, environmental xenoestrogens downregulate placental ABCG2 protein expression depending on gestational age.
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MESH Headings
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/genetics
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/metabolism
- Benzhydryl Compounds/toxicity
- Cells, Cultured
- Chorionic Villi/drug effects
- Chorionic Villi/metabolism
- Diethylstilbestrol/toxicity
- Down-Regulation/drug effects
- Estrogens/toxicity
- Female
- Humans
- Phenols/toxicity
- Placenta/drug effects
- Placenta/metabolism
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Trimester, First/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptors, Estrogen/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sieppi
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, 90014, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - K Vähäkangas
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy/Toxicology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - A Rautio
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, 90014, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - F Ietta
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - L Paulesu
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - P Myllynen
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, 90014, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Nordlab Oulu, P.O. Box 500, 90029, OYS, Oulu, Finland.
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Rönkä AR, Sunnari V, Rautio A, Koiranen M, Taanila A. Associations between school liking, loneliness and social relations among adolescents: Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 study. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2015.1136659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Elsheikh S, Kuusikko-Gauffin S, Mattila ML, Jussila K, Ebeling H, Loukusa S, Omar M, Riad G, Rautio A, Moilanen I. Neuropsychological performance of Finnish and Egyptian children with autism spectrum disorder. Int J Circumpolar Health 2016; 75:29681. [PMID: 26829278 PMCID: PMC4734032 DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v75.29681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies investigating neuropsychological functioning of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have only analysed certain abilities, such as executive functions or language. While comprehensive assessment of the neuropsychological profile of children with ASD has been the focus of recent research, most of the published evidence originates from single centres. Though studies on differences in neuropsychological features of children with ASD across countries are essential for identifying different phenotypes of ASD, such studies have not been conducted. Objective Our goal was to assess the neuropsychological abilities of children with ASD in northern Finland and Egypt and to examine the effect of age and intelligence quotient (IQ) on these abilities. Design Selected verbal and non-verbal subtests of the neuropsychological assessment NEPSY were used to examine 88 children with ASD in northern Finland (n=54, age M=11.2, IQ M=117.1) and Egypt (n=34, age M=8.4, IQ M=96.6). Results Finnish ASD children scored significantly higher than their Egyptian counterparts on the verbal NEPSY subtests Comprehension of Instructions (p<0.001), Comprehension of Sentence Structure (p<0.01), Narrative Memory (p<0.001) and Verbal Fluency (p<0.05) and on the non-verbal NEPSY subtest Design Fluency (p<0.01). Finnish and Egyptian ASD children did not differ on the subtests Memory for Faces, Object Recognition and Object Memory. In addition, we found that age and verbal IQ can have significant influence on neuropsychological performance. Conclusions Our results suggest a possible cultural impact on verbal and visuomotor fluency. However, the ability to recognize and memorize objects and the disability to remember faces appear to be typical for ASD and culturally independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherin Elsheikh
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; .,Child Psychiatry Unit, Abbassia Mental Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.,Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Marja-Leena Mattila
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Katja Jussila
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Hanna Ebeling
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Soile Loukusa
- Faculty of Humanities, Logopedics, Child Language Research Centre, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Manal Omar
- Institute of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Geylan Riad
- Faculty of Arts, Department of Psychology, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Arja Rautio
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Irma Moilanen
- PEDEGO Research Unit, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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Lankila T, Näyhä S, Rautio A, Rusanen J, Taanila A, Koiranen M. Is geographical distance a barrier in the use of public primary health services among rural and urban young adults? Experience from Northern Finland. Public Health 2015; 131:82-91. [PMID: 26715323 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the role of distance in public primary health service use in rural and urban local residential areas (1 km² grids) among the young adults of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (N = 4503). STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study of a cohort born in Northern Finland in 1966. METHODS Use of local health centres was surveyed by postal questionnaire in 1997, and distance from study subjects' home to health centre was calculated along road network. The crude and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated for distance, predisposing and illness-level variables. Distance-related health inequity indices were calculated. RESULTS The IRRs indicated 1.5-fold higher rate of health centre visits among subjects living farther than 10 km compared to subjects living within 2 km from health centre in urban areas. In rural areas, IRRs indicated no significant association with distance and health centre use. No distance-related inequity in the use of health centre services was found. CONCLUSIONS Distance does not seem to be major barrier in health service use among these 31-year old adults. However, closer study of some groups, such as the rural unemployed, might be valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Lankila
- Department of Geography, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland; Center for Life Course Epidemiology and Systems Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - S Näyhä
- Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - A Rautio
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, PO Box 7300, 900014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - J Rusanen
- Department of Geography, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - A Taanila
- Center for Life Course Epidemiology and Systems Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 5000, 900014 Oulu, Finland.
| | - M Koiranen
- Center for Life Course Epidemiology and Systems Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
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Nieminen P, Abass K, Vähäkanga K, Rautio A. Statistically Non-significant Papers in Environmental Health Studies included more Outcome Variables. Biomed Environ Sci 2015; 28:666-673. [PMID: 26464254 DOI: 10.3967/bes2015.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The number of analyzed outcome variables is important in the statistical analysis and interpretation of research findings. This study investigated published papers in the field of environmental health studies. We aimed to examine whether differences in the number of reported outcome variables exist between papers with non-significant findings compared to those with significant findings. Articles on the maternal exposure to mercury and child development were used as examples. METHODS Articles published between 1995 and 2013 focusing on the relationships between maternal exposure to mercury and child development were collected from Medline and Scopus. RESULTS Of 87 extracted papers, 73 used statistical significance testing and 38 (43.7%) of these reported 'non-significant' (P>0.05) findings. The median number of child development outcome variables in papers reporting 'significant' (n=35) and 'non-significant' (n=38) results was 4 versus 7, respectively (Mann-Whitney test P-value=0.014). An elevated number of outcome variables was especially found in papers reporting non-significant associations between maternal mercury and outcomes when mercury was the only analyzed exposure variable. CONCLUSION Authors often report analyzed health outcome variables based on their P-values rather than on stated primary research questions. Such a practice probably skews the research evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pentti Nieminen
- Medical Informatics and Statistics Group, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Khaled Abass
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland; Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Kirsi Vähäkanga
- School of Pharmacy/Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland
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Murtomaa-Hautala M, Viluksela M, Ruokojärvi P, Rautio A. Temporal trends in the levels of polychlorinated dioxins, -furans, -biphenyls and polybrominated diethyl ethers in bank voles in Northern Finland. Sci Total Environ 2015; 526:70-76. [PMID: 25918894 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Dioxin-like chemicals and brominated flame retardants are ubiquitous in the environment, despite the introduction of international prohibitions and restrictions. These chemicals do not remain in the vicinity of their source, instead they can be transported over long distances, in fact even to pristine areas in the northern latitudes. However, there have been rather few time series experiments monitoring the trends in the levels of chlorinated and brominated forms of these chemicals in the environment. In this study, the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDDs/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diethyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in the liver and muscle of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) caught in a remote area in Finnish Lapland during 1986-2007. Five time points were selected: years 1986, 1992, 1998, 2003 and 2007. The levels of PCDDs/Fs and PCBs declined from 1986 until 2003 in both females and males, but tended to increase again in 2007. The peak levels of the most abundant PBDE congeners (PBDEs 47, 99, 100 and 153) were measured in 1998 and 2003. These results reveal that the levels of dioxin-like chemicals remain high also in rural areas in Lapland, whereas the concentrations of brominated flame retardants decreased and follow the current restriction prohibitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Murtomaa-Hautala
- The Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, PO BOX 7300, FI-90014, University of Oulu, Finland.
| | - Matti Viluksela
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Chemicals and Health Unit, PO BOX 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Päivi Ruokojärvi
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Chemicals and Health Unit, PO BOX 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Arja Rautio
- The Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, PO BOX 7300, FI-90014, University of Oulu, Finland.
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Kummu M, Sieppi E, Koponen J, Laatio L, Vähäkangas K, Kiviranta H, Rautio A, Myllynen P. Organic anion transporter 4 (OAT 4) modifies placental transfer of perfluorinated alkyl acids PFOS and PFOA in human placental ex vivo perfusion system. Placenta 2015; 36:1185-91. [PMID: 26303760 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.07.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Revised: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) are widely used in industry and consumer products. Pregnant women are exposed to PFAAs and their presence in umbilical cord blood represents fetal exposure. Interestingly, PFAAs are substrates for organic anion transporters (OAT) of which OAT4 is expressed in human placenta. METHODS To evaluate the contribution of OAT4 and ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 (ABCG2) proteins in the transplacental transfer of perfluoro octane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoro octanoate (PFOA) an ex vivo dual recirculating human placental perfusion was used. Altogether 8 placentas from healthy mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies were successfully perfused. RESULTS Both PFOS and PFOA crossed the placenta as suggested by in vivo data in the literature. The expression of OAT4 and ABCG2 proteins were studied by immunoblotting and correlation with the transfer index %(TI %) of PFOS and PFOA at 120 and 240 min (n = 4) was studied. The expression of OAT4 was in negative correlation with TI % of PFOA (R(2) = 0.92, p = 0.043) and PFOS (R(2) = 0.99, p = 0.007) at 120 min while at 240 min the correlation was statistically significant only with PFOA. The expression of ABCG2 did not correlate with TI% of PFOS or PFOA. DISCUSSION Data obtained in this study suggest the involvement of OAT4 in placental passage of PFAAs. Placental passage of PFOS and PFOA is modified by the transporter protein OAT4 but not by ABCG2. This is the first study indicating that OAT4 may decrease the fetal exposure to PFAAs and protect the fetus after maternal exposure to PFAAs but further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kummu
- Research Group of Biomedicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Finland; Center for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - E Sieppi
- Research Group of Biomedicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Finland; Center for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - J Koponen
- THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Environmental Health, Kuopio, Finland
| | - L Laatio
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - K Vähäkangas
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy/Toxicology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - H Kiviranta
- THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Environmental Health, Kuopio, Finland
| | - A Rautio
- Center for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - P Myllynen
- Center for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Nordlab Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
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Pakanen L, Pääkkönen T, Ikäheimo TM, Rintamäki H, Leppäluoto J, Kaija H, Kortelainen ML, Rautio A, Porvari K. Urinary thrombomodulin and catecholamine levels are interrelated in healthy volunteers immersed in cold and warm water. Temperature (Austin) 2015; 3:161-6. [PMID: 27227082 PMCID: PMC4861178 DOI: 10.1080/23328940.2015.1033589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe hypothermia has been shown to influence the levels of catecholamines and thrombomodulin, an endothelial protein essentially involved in the regulation of haemostasis and inflammation. A link between thrombomodulin and catecholamines during cold exposure has also been previously suggested. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of short-term cold exposure without hypothermia on catecholamines and the circulating and urinary thrombomodulin levels. Seven healthy male subjects were immersed in cold water (+10°C) for 10 minutes followed by a 20-minute immersion in +28°C water. Warm water immersion was performed separately for each subject (+30°C for 30 minutes). Thrombomodulin and catecholamine concentrations were measured from pre- and post-immersion (up to 23 hours) samples. In urine, the thrombomodulin level correlated strongly with adrenaline (ρ = 0.806) and noradrenaline (ρ = 0.760) levels. There were no significant differences in thrombomodulin levels between immersion temperatures. Post-immersion urinary thrombomodulin levels were significantly lower than the pre-immersion level at both immersion temperatures. Median concentrations of plasma noradrenaline and urinary adrenaline were higher after exposure to +10°C than to +30°C. Thus, further evidence of the association between thrombomodulin and catecholamines was gained in a physiologically relevant setting in humans. Additionally, it is evident that a short-term cold exposure was not able to elicit changes in the thrombomodulin levels in a follow-up period of up to 23 hours. These findings provide further understanding of the physiological responses to cold during immersion, and of the potential influence of stress on haemostatic and inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lasse Pakanen
- Department of Forensic Medicine; University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiina Pääkkönen
- Faculty of Science; University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland; Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine; University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiina M Ikäheimo
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland; Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research; University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland
| | - Hannu Rintamäki
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; Oulu, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine; University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Helena Kaija
- Department of Forensic Medicine; University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland
| | - Marja-Leena Kortelainen
- Department of Forensic Medicine; University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Centre for Arctic Medicine; Thule Institute; University of Oulu ; Oulu, Finland
| | - Katja Porvari
- Department of Forensic Medicine; University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu; Oulu, Finland
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Abass K, Reponen P, Mattila S, Rautio A, Pelkonen O. Human variation and CYP enzyme contribution in benfuracarb metabolism in human in vitro hepatic models. Toxicol Lett 2014; 224:300-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2013.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Revised: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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50
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Abass K, Reponen P, Mattila S, Rautio A, Pelkonen O. Comparative metabolism of benfuracarb in in vitro mammalian hepatic microsomes model and its implications for chemical risk assessment. Toxicol Lett 2014; 224:290-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2013.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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