Estimating residential air pollution exposure among citizens in Oslo 1974–1998 using a geographical information system

Abstract

Annual concentration fields of SO2 and NOx for the period 1974-1998 are calculated for a 22 x 18 km2-grid in Oslo. In a study of lung cancer and air pollution in Oslo, 16209 men living in Oslo have been followed from 1972/73 to 1998. This paper presents a method for estimating their annual residential air pollution exposure for SO2 and NOx. In the exposure assessment the National Population Register provided information on home addresses. Each participant was given an annual average air pollutant concentration outdoors of the address he lived the largest part of that year. Persons living close to streets with high traffic were given an additional concentration, and persons who moved outside Oslo were given a region value for each year. Due to regulations of the sulfur content in fuel oil and a general change of local heating systems to electricity or distant heating, the SO2-concentrations in Central Oslo were reduced during the period from about 60 microg m(-3) in 1974-75 to about 4 microg m(-3) in 1997-98. Due to the increasing traffic the NOx-concentrations have increased slowly, from about 40 microg m(-3) in 1974-84 to about 60 microg m(-3) in 1989. After the introduction of catalyst cars the concentrations were reduced to about 45 microg m(-3) in 1997-98.

Long-Term Traffic-Related Exposures and Asthma Onset in Schoolchildren in Oslo, Norway

“…More specific, less reliable emissions and fewer receptor points with busy traffic in the early period lead to more uncertain modeling. However, because the spatial variation of air pollution is mostly controlled by the meteorologic and topographic conditions in Oslo (Gram et al 2003; Oftedal et al 2009), we believe that the ordering of residential NO 2 exposures was maintained over time. Because all traffic-related exposures were calculated independently from health outcomes and potential confounders, systematic error is unlikely, and random error would probably dilute associations between exposure and outcome.…”

Lung Cancer and Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide and Traffic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Because cancer is an outcome that is believed to develop over many years, exposure modeling that better approximates long-term, individual-level exposures may provide more valid estimates of the carcinogenic potential of traffic, or other, air pollution. This is distinct from studies of outcomes with sudden onset; the latter can rely on aggregate measures, such as fixed-site monitors and short-term exposure information, because these measures adequately describe relevant, short-term exposure episodes such as high traffic or temperature days ( Gram et al 2003 ). Even when modeling techniques are used, the residential-level exposures assigned to an individual are, at best, an approximation of individual-level exposure.…”

Residential outdoor air pollution and allergen sensitization in schoolchildren in Oslo, Norway

“…To assess air pollution exposure on a more individual level, several epidemiological studies have used a geographical information system (GIS) [6,9,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]]. In the current study, we used a GIS including a dispersion model to calculate residential outdoor air pollution concentrations from 1992 to 2002 for children living in Oslo, Norway.…”

“…Neither are we aware of any study on lifetime exposure and allergen sensitization. In addition, the topographical conditions in Oslo imply a high spatial variation within the city [16, 20]. Our aim is to investigate the relations between early and lifetime exposure to residential outdoor air pollution and sensitization to common allergens in 9–10‐year‐old children living in Oslo, Norway.…”