Long-Term Exposure to Road Traffic Noise and Incident Diabetes: A Cohort Study

Background: Road traffic noise at normal urban levels can lead to stress and sleep disturbances. Both excess of stress hormones and reduction in sleep quality and duration may lead to higher risk for type 2 diabetes.Objective: We investigated whether long-term exposure to residential road traffic noise is associated with an increased risk of diabetes.Methods: In the population-based Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort of 57,053 people 50–64 years of age at enrollment in 1993–1997, we identified 3,869 cases of incident diabetes in a national diabetes registry between enrollment and 2006. The mean follow-up time was 9.6 years. Present and historical residential addresses from 1988 through 2006 were identified using a national register, and exposure to road traffic noise was estimated for all addresses. Associations between exposure to road traffic noise and incident diabetes were analyzed in a Cox regression model.Results: A 10-dB higher level of average road traffic noise at diagnosis and during the 5 years preceding diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes, with incidence rate ratios (IRR) of 1.08 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.14) and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.18), respectively, after adjusting for potential confounders including age, body mass index, waist circumference, education, air pollution (nitrogen oxides), and lifestyle characteristics. After applying a stricter definition of diabetes (2,752 cases), we found IRRs of 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.19) and 1.14 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.22) per 10-dB increase in road traffic noise at diagnosis and during the 5 years preceding diagnosis, respectively.Conclusion: Exposure to residential road traffic noise was associated with a higher risk of diabetes. This study provides further evidence that urban noise may adversely influence population health.     

The Relationship between Food Security Status and Sleep Disturbance among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in an Indonesian Population

Background: The relationship between food insecurity and the experience of sleep disturbance has received little attention among researchers, although food insecurity is associated with poor physical and mental health globally. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between food security status and sleep disturbance among adults 20–64 years old. Methods: The study’s population-based sample included 20,212 Indonesian adults who participated in the fifth wave of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS5) in 2014. Dietary intake data, gathered using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), were used to assess the food security status. Sleep disturbance was assessed using the 10-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaire. We used multiple linear and logistic regression models to test the study hypothesis. Results: A higher likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbance was recorded in people aged older than 56 years (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.17–2.72, p = 0.007), people with depressive symptoms (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 2.77–4.61, p < 0.001), and food-insecure people (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02–1.70, p = 0.036). A lower likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbance was recorded in people with low educational attainment (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.30–0.57, p < 0.001). Sleep disturbance was dependent on the food consumption groups and food security status among men (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Sleep disturbance may be affected by the food-insecure status of adults, and later, may lead to serious health outcomes.     

Organisational justice and smoking: the Finnish Public Sector Study

OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which the justice of decision-making procedures and interpersonal relationships is associated with smoking. SETTING: 10 municipalities and 21 hospitals in Finland. Design and PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional data derived from the Finnish Public Sector Study were analysed with logistic regression analysis models with generalised estimating equations. Analyses of smoking status were based on data provided by 34,021 employees. Separate models for heavy smoking (> or = 20 cigarettes/day) were calculated for 6295 current smokers. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, education, socioeconomic position, marital status, job contract and negative affectivity, smokers who reported low procedural justice were about 1.4 times more likely to smoke > or = 20 cigarettes/day compared with their counterparts who reported high levels of justice. In a similar way, after adjustments, low levels of justice in interpersonal treatment was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of heavy smoking (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.77 for men and OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.83 for women). Further adjustment for job strain and effort-reward imbalance had little effect on these results. No associations were observed between justice components and smoking status or ex-smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The extent to which employees are treated with justice in the workplace seems to be associated with smoking intensity independently of established stressors at work.     

Associations between Blood Zinc Concentrations and Sleep Quality in Childhood: A Cohort Study

Little evidence is available regarding the relationship between zinc and sleep in school children. The present study aimed to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between blood zinc concentrations and sleep quality throughout childhood. A total of 1295 children from the Jintan Child Cohort in China were included in this study. Venous blood sample of zinc and subjective sleep data were collected when the children were at preschool age (3–5 years old) and early adolescence (11–15 years old). Odds ratios (ORs) reflect the odds of the sleep quality/subdomain being at a greater impairment level associated with 1 unit increase in log zinc concentration. Cross-sectional analyses showed negative correlation of blood zinc concentrations with insufficient sleep duration (OR = 0.432, p = 0.002), sleep disturbances (OR = 0.454, p = 0.009) and poor sleep quality (OR = 0.559, p = 0.049) in adolescence, but no association at preschool age (p > 0.05). Longitudinal analyses indicated that blood zinc concentrations at preschool age predict poor sleep efficiency (OR = 0.186, p = 0.000) and poor sleep quality (OR = 0.358, p = 0.020) in adolescence. Our findings suggest that sufficient zinc concentration is associated with good sleep quality, dependent on the developmental stage in childhood. Future interventional research is warranted to examine the short and long-term effect of zinc status on sleep heath.     

武汉市南湖花园城交通噪声污染及对策研究

通过对武汉市南湖花园城的3条主干道(平安路、瑞安路和恒安路)及周边区域的实地调查,对其车流量及交通噪声进行了统计分析,在此基础上研究出该区域的车流量在休息日的日变化规律,并针对武汉市南湖花园城的实际情况提出了交通噪声污染的防治措施.     

西三旗南路交通噪声预测及治理的研究

目的对西三旗南路道路交通噪声预测的全过程,根据预测结果提出针对性的、有效的噪声治理措施。方法选择“NMPB—Routes-96（SETAR。CETRU—LCPC-CSTB）”模型作为本次环境评价中的环境噪声预测模型,应用Lima软件对西三旗南路营运期环境噪声计算评价预测,选择2014年（项目建成年）、2020年和2028年分别代表营运初期、中期、远期进行评价。结果运营远期相比近期,昼间60个声环境敏感点处的噪声值增量在0．2～5．4dB（A）之间,夜间在0．2～4．9dB（A）之间。在运营远期,60个声环境敏感点处的昼间噪声预测值最高为72．0dB（A）,夜间噪声预测值最高为65．2dB（A）。10层以下．随着预测点高度的升高,噪声预测值增大,10层以上,随着预测点高度的升高,噪声预测值减小。将面向道路一侧的窗户全部改造为IV级隔声窗,室内噪声预测值最高为42．0dB（A）,夜间噪声预测值最高为35．2dB（A）。结论应用Lima软件预测城市道路的交通噪声环境影响评价取得了很好的效果,不仅可以预测平面上各敏感点的噪声值,还可以预测垂直方向的各敏感点的噪声值;采用安装隔声窗的降噪措施,有效降低了噪声对居民生活的影响。     

Urban Residential Road Traffic Noise and Hypertension: a Cross-Sectional Study of Adult Population

Results from studies involving exposure to road traffic noise and risk of hypertension are diverse and have seldom reached statistical significance. This study was designed with the aim of investigating whether there is any association between road traffic noise and prevalence of hypertension in an urban adult population. Similar studies have never been reported from India. A cross-sectional study was performed on 909 adults (533 female and 376 male) aged 18–80 years residing in close proximity to roadways in Asansol City. Time-weighted equivalent noise level (L_den) was estimated using a standard modeling platform. Odds for hypertension in relation to traffic noise exposure were estimated by univariate and multifactorial logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for self-reported hypertension was 1.99 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.66–2.39) per 5 dB(A) increase of L_den (range 55.1–77.9). A gender-related risk difference was observed among the male (OR 1.81 (1.42–2.31)) and female (OR 2.18 (1.66–2.88)) respondents. For increase in 9 years of age, the odds of hypertension risk increased by 60 % (OR 1.66 (1.43–1.91) among those exposed above L_den 60 dB(A). Vulnerable subgroups were female aged 35–54 years and male aged 45–54 years. The study suggests that a threshold exposure to road traffic noise at L_den > 65 dB(A) for men and L_den > 60 dB(A) in women may be associated with the occurrence of hypertension.     

武汉东湖风景区交通噪声污染及控制对策

介绍了东湖风景区概况,系统监测了东湖风景区的交通噪声污染状况,借鉴了比例预测法对其未来5 a的交通噪声发展趋势进行了预测,并提出了相应控制对策.     

Associations between infections and fatigue in a Dutch working population: results of the Maastricht Cohort Study on Fatigue at Work

The relationship between fatigue and common infections was further explored, as part of a 3 year prospective cohort study on Fatigue at Work. The current study is based on seven successive questionnaires, covering the first 2 years of follow-up. The overall response at baseline was 45% (n = 12,140). On T1 10,592 (87.2% compared to baseline response) employees returned the questionnaire. For T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, 10,270 (84.6%), 9655 (79.5%), 8956 (73.8%), 8692 (71.6%) and 8070 (66.5%) employees respectively returned the questionnaire. Self-administered questionnaires were used to determine the level of fatigue with the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) and the occurrence of common cold, flu-like illness and gastroenteritis. Regression analysis using generalized estimated equations (GEE) were used for data analysis. We found a cross-sectional relationship between fatigue and the infections flu-like illness and gastroenteritis, and a longitudinal relationship between an infection as a predictor of fatigue. For fatigue as a predictor of an infection, we found odds ratios (ORs) of 1.35 (confidence interval (CI) 1.28–1.42) for flu-like illness and 1.33 (CI: 1.25–1.42) for gastroenteritis. The highest incidence of infections was found among employees who reported high fatigue levels on two successive occasions. The increased incidence of infections, is regarded as a substantial effect of fatigue because it is associated with significant absenteeism from work and leads to discomfort.     

灰色系统理论对城市道路交通噪声的建模与预测

以豫西三门峡市1996～2000年道路交通噪声监测数据为依据，运用灰色系统理论建立了GM(1，1)预测模型，经用四种不同方法对模型精度进行检验，均满足要求，用此模型预测三门峡市未来几年道路交通噪声呈下降趋势。     

Associations between Red Meat Intake and Sleep Parameters in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

BackgroundAlthough lifestyle changes have been investigated as a therapeutic choice in regard to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity, data exploring associations between apnea and hypopnea indices and dietary habits are scarce.ObjectiveThe aim was to investigate possible relationships between apnea and hypopnea indices and red meat intake in a cohort of Greek patients with mild or moderate to severe OSA evaluated by polysomnography.DesignThis is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from November 2014 through July 2018.Participants/settingThe sample consisted of 243 patients (21 to 70 years old) who were recently diagnosed with OSA, by overnight attended polysomnography in the Sleep Disorders Center of “Evangelismos” Hospital, Athens Medical School (Greece). The patients included were free of other chronic diseases and had not changed their dietary habits for at least 6 months before evaluation.Main outcome measuresInformation on participants’ dietary intake, food group consumption, physical activity, smoking, sleep habits, and anthropometric measures were collected. Dietary intake was evaluated by food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recalls. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was also evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Score.Statistical analyses performedGeneral linear models were used to examine the relation between red meat intake and sleep parameters, while adjusting for potential confounders. Multiple logistic regression was also applied to estimate the association between red meat intake and the likelihood of severe OSA.ResultsHigher intakes of total red meat and unprocessed red meat were associated with higher values of apnea and hypopnea indices, after controlling for age, sex, waist circumference, socioeconomic parameters, smoking, physical activity, adequacy of nighttime sleep, and intake of foods or food components in the Mediterranean diet other than red meat (P trend for increasing quartiles of intake ≤0.02). Compared with patients in the lowest quartile of energy-adjusted total red meat intake (≤0.59 servings/day per 1,000 kcal), patients in the highest quartile (≥1.18 servings/day) had three times higher likelihood of having severe OSA (odds ratio: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.17 to 8.14).ConclusionsThe results provide evidence of a positive association between total red meat and unprocessed red meat intake with apnea or hypopnea indices and suggest that red meat consumption is associated with OSA severity.     

Smoking and subsequent risk of leukemia in Japan: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study

Background

Cigarette smoking has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of leukemia. Most epidemiological evidence on the association between cigarette smoking and leukemia risk is from studies conducted in Western populations, however, and evidence from Asian populations is scarce.

Bidirectional Associations between Daytime Napping Duration and Metabolic Syndrome: A Nationally Representative Cohort Study

Background: We aimed to examine the bidirectional associations between daytime napping duration and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2011 to 2015, modified Poisson regression models were performed to explore the longitudinal associations of baseline napping duration with the occurrence and remission of MetS. Generalized estimating equation was conducted to explore the association between baseline MetS status with subsequent changes in daytime napping duration. Cross-lagged panel analysis was performed to further verify their bidirectional relationships. Results: During the four-year follow-up, among 5041 participants without MetS at baseline, extended naps were significantly associated with MetS occurrence, compared with non-napping. This association was only significant in individuals with adequate night-time sleep duration or good sleep quality of the 2898 participants with MetS at baseline. Excessive napping duration may be not favorable for MetS remission especially for adequate night-time sleepers. With respect to reverse associations, baseline MetS status significantly increased the napping duration during the subsequent follow-up period. Finally, there were significant bidirectional cross-lagged associations between napping duration and MetS severity score after adjusting for all covariates. Conclusions: Our study indicates bidirectional relationships exist between daytime napping duration and MetS. Interestingly, longer napping duration was detrimental to cardiometabolic health only in those with sufficient night-time sleep duration or good sleep quality.     

Associations between Traffic Noise,Particulate Air Pollution,Hypertension, and Isolated Systolic Hypertension in Adults: The KORA Study

Background: Studies on the association between traffic noise and cardiovascular diseases have rarely considered air pollution as a covariate in the analyses. Isolated systolic hypertension has not yet been in the focus of epidemiological noise research.Methods: The association between traffic noise (road and rail) and the prevalence of hypertension was assessed in two study populations with a total of 4,166 participants 25–74 years of age. Traffic noise (weighted day–night average noise level; L_DN) at the facade of the dwellings was derived from noise maps. Annual average PM_2.5 mass concentrations at residential addresses were estimated by land-use regression. Hypertension was assessed by blood pressure readings, self-reported doctor-diagnosed hypertension, and antihypertensive drug intake.Results: In the Greater Augsburg, Germany, study population, traffic noise and air pollution were not associated with hypertension. In the City of Augsburg population (n = 1,893), where the exposure assessment was more detailed, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for a 10-dB(A) increase in noise was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.35), and 1.11 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.30) after additional adjustment for PM_2.5. The adjusted OR for a 1-μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 was 1.15 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.30), and 1.11 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.27) after additional adjustment for noise. For isolated systolic hypertension, the fully adjusted OR for noise was 1.43 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.86) and for PM_2.5 was 1.08 (95% CI: 0.87, 1.34).Conclusions: Traffic noise and PM_2.5 were both associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension. Mutually adjusted associations with hypertension were positive but no longer statistically significant.Citation: Babisch W, Wolf K, Petz M, Heinrich J, Cyrys J, Peters A. 2014. Associations between traffic noise, particulate air pollution, hypertension, and isolated systolic hypertension in adults: the KORA Study. Environ Health Perspect 122:492–498; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306981     

The incidence and aetiology of stroke in the Caerphilly and Speedwell Collaborative Studies I: methods and incidence of events

Stroke mortality and morbidity remain high despite downward trends in incidence and case fatality. Population-based longitudinal studies which include collection of risk factor data are required for a better understanding of stroke aetiology. From a representative cohort of men from South Wales and South-west England, followed up for a median of 17 y, details of possible cerebrovascular events were collected from questionnaires, hospital admission data, general practitioner records, death certificates, radiology records and post-mortem reports. Radiology records, and strokes and transient ischaemic attacks were independently validated. There were 433 strokes and 163 transient ischaemic attacks identified during follow-up. Of these, 333 were the first ever in a lifetime strokes of which 139 were definite ischaemic, 20 were haemorrhagic and 168 were probable ischaemic strokes. The crude incidence rate for stroke was 445 (95% confidence interval 398-493) per 100 000 person years. The age-standardised rates for 10 y age-bands were: 45-54 y 91 (10-172); 55-64 y 351 (269-432) and 65-74 y 855 (669-1040). The 30 d case-fatality rate was 21.0% (70/333) for all strokes and 19.2% (60/312) for ischaemic strokes. For transient ischaemic attacks the age-standardised incidence rates for the same 10 y age bands were 92 (4-179), 111 (64-157), and 273 (167-80), respectively. These rates for stroke transient ischaemic attack are likely to be accurate given the high ascertainment of events in this representative population of middle-aged men. Such studies, reporting reliable measures of cerebrovascular events, are important for measuring burden of disease, and for analysis of risk factor associations to help improve understanding of stroke aetiology and inform preventive efforts.     

Implementation of Workplace-Based Smoking Cessation Support Activities and Smoking Cessation Among Employees: The Finnish Public Sector Study

Objectives. We investigated the relationship between implementation of workplace smoking cessation support activities and employee smoking cessation.Methods. In 2 cohort studies, participants were 6179 Finnish public-sector employees who self-reported as smokers at baseline in 2004 (study 1) or 2008 (study 2) and responded to follow-up surveys in 2008 (study 1; n = 3298; response rate = 71%) or 2010 (study 2; n = 2881; response rate = 83%). Supervisors’ reports were used to assess workplace smoking cessation support activities. We conducted multilevel logistic regression analyses to examine changes in smoking status.Results. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, number of cigarettes smoked per day, work unit size, shift work, type of job contract, health status, and health behaviors, baseline smokers whose supervisors reported that the employing agency had offered pharmacological treatments or financial incentives were more likely than those in workplaces that did not offer such support to have quit smoking. In general, associations were stronger among moderate or heavy smokers (≥ 10 cigarettes/day) than among light smokers (< 10 cigarettes/day).Conclusions. Cessation activities offered by employers may encourage smokers, particularly moderate or heavy smokers, to quit smoking.Smoking bans are increasingly used to reduce smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Bans have been widely implemented in the European Union countries, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that by 2020 or sooner, all US states will have laws banning smoking in all indoor areas of private-sector work sites, restaurants, and bars.1 Smoke-free work environments are associated with higher smoking cessation rates.2,3Workplaces are often the setting for efforts to promote smoking cessation. Beyond workplace smoking restrictions and campaigns to reduce smoking, employers offer various types of support for smoking cessation, including support groups, nicotine replacement therapy, other pharmacological treatments, and financial incentives.4 A review of workplace interventions showed strong evidence that interventions directed toward individual smokers, such as individual and group counseling and pharmacological treatment, increase the likelihood of smoking cessation.4 By contrast, there was only limited evidence that participation in cessation programs can be increased by competitions and incentives.5Another review showed that worksite-based multicomponent programs involving incentives and competitions in combination with other interventions can be effective.6 Similarly, a recent study conducted at a large company revealed that financial incentives significantly increase cessation rates.7 Self-help interventions and social support have been found to be less effective.4It is not clear whether the effectiveness of interventions varies according to initial smoking intensity, that is, number of cigarettes smoked per day. Hyland et al.8 suggested that low-level smokers may have different intervention needs than heavier smokers. Most studies have been limited by small sample sizes or have been conducted in a small number of work sites, so the extent to which findings are generalizable to other populations and settings is uncertain.In a large sample of smokers from more than 1000 public-sector work units, we examined whether employer-offered smoking cessation support activities were associated with a higher likelihood of quitting smoking independently of a number of other factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, work-related factors, health status, and health behaviors. In addition, we examined whether the effects of smoking cessation support activities on smoking cessation varied according to prior smoking intensity.     

Associations between Poor Sleep Quality,Obesity, and the Anthropometric Measurements of Women in Turkey

Recent studies have shown that poor sleep quality is significantly associated with obesity. The aim of this study is to examine the association of sleep quality with obesity and specific anthropometric measurements. A total of 105 women aged 20–55 years with no chronic diseases participated in this study. They filled out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), their anthropometric measurements were taken, and their dietary data were collected with a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). There was no significant relationship between sleep quality and BMI, waist circumference, triceps skinfold thicknesses, body fat ratio (%), and body fat mass (p > .05), but high bread consumption was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (p < .05). The women with poor sleep quality consumed significantly more bread, but not other foods, than the women with good sleep quality. Sleep quality can thus be related to eating habits.