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Environmental Pollution

The water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat affect our bodies every day. Therefore it is important that these most essential environmental influences do not contain hazardous quantities of substances that may increase our risk for health problems.

  

  1. Hidden damage to sperm

    illustration photoSperm quality among Western men is poor - especially in Norway and Denmark. It is disturbing that one in five Norwegian men has a sperm quality close to the limit which the World Health Organisation associates with reduced fertility. New research at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is helping to reveal the causes of impaired sperm quality.
    Read more [31.08.2010]

  2. Interlaboratory Comparison on POPs in Food

    Mincing of meat before testingWelcome to the official webpage for the Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC) on the determination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in food. The studies comprise the measurements of dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in three types of food. The studies are organised by the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and are open for academic, regulatory and commercial laboratories worldwide.
    Read more [30.08.2010]

  3. Volcanic ash and health hazards

    VulkanA cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland is causing problems for air traffic in Norway. Health risk in Norway is considered to be small, because the concentration of polluting particles at ground level appears to be low.
    Read more [15.04.2010]

  4. Dioxins

    Dioxins is the common name for the group of environmental pollutants consisting of totally 210 chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF). They are highly toxic and persistent, especially if they are substituted with chlorine in the 2,3,7,8 positions. Furthermore, they are lipophilic and biomagnify in the food chain. They may therefore pose a threat to human health.
    More... [27.02.2004]

  5. Phthalates

    Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid with various alcohols and have been used in large amounts as plasticisers in PVC. They are present in floor coverings, soft toys for children, wall coverings and food packaging materials and may leak from these products.
    More... [27.02.2004]

  6. Brominated flame-retardants

    The Department of Analytical Chemistry has developed methods for the determination of several of the brominated flame-retardants in human blood and mother's milk in order to evaluate human exposure.


    More... [26.02.2004]

  7. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)

    Polychlorinated biphenyls are ubiquitous environmental pollutants. They were produced and applied in great quantities in most of the industrialised countries around the world. Due to their toxicity, these compounds have been banned in most countries. Nevertheless, due to their application and in many cases through waste, large amounts of these compounds have ended up in the environment.
    More... [27.02.2004]

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