Department
Air Quality and Noise
The department conducts research and advice in the areas of outdoor air pollution, noise, greenness, temperature and the effect of these environmental factors on health.
Another important part of our work is systematic reviews and advice on the health effects of tobacco and nicotine products (e-cigarettes, snus). In addition, we summarise new knowledge and study the impact of climate and environmental change on public health. We participate in national and international research projects and place great emphasis on the research being relevant to the advisory work. The goal is to contribute to better public health and reduce the burden of disease caused by environmental factors.
Knowledge
Our research is based on both experimental studies and population studies. The department has expertise in advanced epidemiological and statistical methods for studying various outdoor environmental exposures, both individually and in combination, and effects on health. In particular, we study the health effects of air pollution, transportation noise and temperature, and how green areas, conditions in our built environment/urban development and nature-based solutions can affect the associations. To model the environmental exposures, we use specialized exposure models, where the exposures can be linked to residential addresses using geographic information systems (qGIS/arcGIS). The environmental exposures are then linked to information from various health registers, questionnaire information and biological samples. We are also studying how climate-related effects such as heat waves can affect health along with air pollution. Our research on climate effects includes systematic literature reviews and scoping reviews as well.
The experimental research at the department helps to understand the underlying mechanisms and behaviour of the various air pollution particles and their health effects observed in population studies. The department specializes in exposure of advanced lung cell models to different types of particles and chemical components attached to the particles. The work includes exposure of co-cultures and monocultures of lung cells to various particles from outdoor air pollution (particulate matter, exhaust particles, diesel particles, mineral particles, etc.) and analysis of response markers such as inflammation, oxidative stress and cell signalling.
Tobacco research at the department is based on extensive systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses (where the data permit) of various health effects associated with the use of tobacco and nicotine products such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes and snuff.
In addition, the department contributes to the development of methodology for calculating health loss (disease burden, DALY) related to air pollution and noise. This enables us to carry out national and regional disease burden calculations, modelling of the effects of interventions, and valuation of health loss due to these environmental factors.
Infrastructure
Over time, the department has developed specialized co-cultures of lung cells to study the effects of various air pollution particles as well as other environmental chemicals. The exposure takes place in solution or using an Air liquid interface (ALI) apparatus. We also use a High Content Imaging (HCI) system to study the morphology and expression of various protein markers. Inflammation markers as well as cell signalling, and cell communication are studied using ELISA, transcriptomics and proteomics.
The department has conducted various population studies that provide access to valuable biological samples and questionnaire data designed for environmental epidemiological studies as well as information from national health registries. In addition, the department has expertise in GIS (Geographical Information Systems), which has helped to establish an environmental data bank that collects valuable data on air pollution components (e.g. particulate matter, NO2 and ozone) and noise from various sources associated with geographical areas.
Advisory work
Our research profile and projects are closely linked to advisory and risk assessment work. We assist with risk assessments, health impact assessments, disease burden calculations and various assessments and reports to the Norwegian Environment Agency, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the Public Roads Directorate, the Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Climate and Environment. In addition, we assist municipalities (environmental health), municipal medical officers and county governors with advice on the department's areas based on knowledge from their own and others' research. The department also provides knowledge-based advice to the public.
Preparedness
The department participates in chemical preparedness work and assists with advice on possible health effects in emergency situations where emissions to air occur. The department has expertise in exposure via air and toxic effects of various air pollutants such as particulate matter, NO2, ozone, SO2 in addition to industrial chemicals and emissions from waste facilities.