Heikki S. Vuorinen

Genetic component of noise sensitivity.

We investigated the genetic component of noise sensitivity using a twin-study design. The study sample consisted of 573 same-sexed twin pairs from the Finnish Twin Cohort. The 131 monozygotic (MZ) and 442 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs with an age range of 31 to 88 years replied to a questionnaire on noise and health-related items in 1988. The noise sensitivity of respondents was defined as high, quite high, quite low or low. MZ pairs were more similar with regards noise sensitivity than DZ pairs, and quantitative genetic modeling indicated significant familiality. The best z-fitting genetic model provided an estimate of heritability of 36% (95% CI = .20-.50) and when hearing impaired subjects were excluded this rose to 40% (95% CI = .24-.54). In conclusion, noise sensitivity does aggregate in families and probably has a genetic component.

Snoring and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

The association of snoring with some cardiovascular risk factors was studied cross-sectionally by a postal survey among 3750 males aged 40-59 years. In univariate analyses, snoring associated statistically significantly (P < 0.01) with hypertension, smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol use, physical inactivity, dyspnoea, hostility and morning tiredness. In a multiple logistic regression model adjusted by age, snoring associated significantly with smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, hostility and morning tiredness. When smoking was excluded from the multivariate model, alcohol use was also associated significantly with snoring. The association of snoring with smoking, and with obesity seemed to be almost independent from other studied correlates of snoring. Our results indicate that in further studies on predictive value of snoring with regard to coronary heart disease and stroke, the associations of snoring with hypertension, smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol use, physical inactivity and hostility have to be considered, as these risk characteristics may cause confounding effects.

Trace and heavy metal analyses of a skeletal population representing the town people in Turku (Åbo), Finland in the 16th–17th centuries: with special reference to gender, age and social background

The Julin site in the city of Turku, Finland, was excavated in 1964, 1983-1985 and 1987. On this site are the remains of the church of the Holy Spirit with its cemetery. The burial period of the excavated skeletons lasted most probably from the 1580s to the 1650s. Sodium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, bromine, strontium and lead concentrations of ribs from skeletal remains of 141 individuals were analyzed. The main finding is that the concentrations of Sr and Zn in younger women tend to be lower than that in men of a corresponding age, and in older people both the strontium and zinc values tend to be higher in women than men. On the basis of this study the Pb exposure in the early modern population in Finland was at a very low level. We conclude that the role of migration and the source of grain supply on the variation of the elemental values are more difficult to evaluate than the role of diagenesis.

Somatic and psychological characteristics of noise-sensitive adults in Finland.

The authors examined the relationship of noise sensitivity with health status and psychological factors in individuals <70 yr of age in Finland. Subjects (n = 1,355) were selected from a 1988 case-control study, based on the Finnish Twin Cohort, that assessed noise sensitivity, lifetime noise exposure, and hypertension. Other health status and psychological factors were obtained from a questionnaire that had been administered to the same individuals in 1981. Statistical analysis showed that noise sensitivity was associated significantly with hypertension, emphysema, use of psychotropic drugs (i.e., sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and pain relievers), stress, smoking, and hostility, even after adjustment for lifetime noise exposure. These results indicate that noise sensitivity has both psychological and somatogenic components.

Noise sensitivity and hearing disability.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of noise sensitivity with self-reported hearing disability and hearing levels, with consideration of the role of self-reported history of noise exposure and use of hearing protectors. The study is based on the Finnish Twin Cohort. In 1988, a noise questionnaire was sent to 1005 twin pairs, 1495 individuals (688 men, 807 women) replied. The age range was 31-88 years. Information on some potential confounders was obtained from the questionnaire in 1981 for the same individuals. A subsample of thirty-eight elderly women with noise sensitivity response from 1988 had audiometry data from 2000 to 2001. Noise sensitivity was associated with self-reported hearing disability among all subjects [odds ratio (OR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-2.12] and among women (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.19-3.04), but no-more significantly among men (OR 1.31, 95% CI 0.86-1.98). The association was primarily seen among younger subjects (50 years or less). The difference between noise sensitive and non-noise sensitive elderly women in the average of thresholds at frequencies of 0.5-4 kHz in the better ear was not significant (Pr = 0.18). Noise sensitivity did not modify the association of hearing disability with the self-reported history of occupational noise exposure. Noise sensitivity was associated with the use of hearing protectors at work. The study shows the importance of recognizing the noise sensitive in noise effect studies, since sensitivity in annoyance has implications in most of the effect categories.

Elemental analysis of long bones of infants from ficana excavations

Abstract External beam PIXE and PIGE methods were applied to the analysis of elemental concentrations of bones from nineteen child burials from the Ficana excavations. Concentrations of ten minor and major elements (Na, P, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr and Pb) were determined. The Fe, Mn, Cu and Pb values were concluded to be primarily the result of post-mortem conditions while the elements Sr and Zn most probably present the pre-mortem conditions.

Noise sensitivity and multiple chemical sensitivity scales: Properties in a population based epidemiological study

Noise sensitivity is considered to be a self-perceived indicator of vulnerability to stressors in general and not noise alone. Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) has to some extent been accompanied by noise sensitivity, indicating a moderate correspondence between them. The aim of this study is to investigate if the Weinsteins Noise Sensitivity Scale and Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventorys (QEESI) Chemical Intolerance Subscale can differentiate noise sensitivity and MCS as different entities, and if there are overlaps in the characteristics of noise sensitivity and MCS. In 2002, 327 individuals (166 men, 161 women; age range 45 - 66 years) from the Finnish Twin Cohort answered a questionnaire on noise-related and MCS items. Somatic, psychological, and lifestyle factors were obtained through earlier questionnaires for the same individuals. Both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses (CFA and EFA) of the questionnaire items on the Weinsteins Noise Sensitivity Scale and QEESIs Chemical Intolerance Subscale indicated the presence of three factors - Noise Sensitivity, Chemical Sensitivity, and Ability to Concentrate factors - arising from the forming of two factors from the items of the Weinsteins scale. In the regression analyses, among all subjects, the Noise Sensitivity Factor was associated with neuroticism and smoking, and the Chemical Sensitivity Factor was associated with allergies and alcohol use. The study indicates that the Weinsteins Noise Sensitivity Scale and QEESIs Chemical Intolerance Subscale differentiate noise sensitivity and MCS as different entities.

Noise sensitivity and disability retirement: a longitudinal twin study.

Objective: To analyze whether noise sensitivity increases the risk of disability pension (DP). Methods: Questionnaire data of a sample of 706 Finnish twin individuals (age range, 31 to 65 years) with record linkage to information on DP during 16 years of follow-up were analyzed using individual and pairwise Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Noise sensitivity increased the risk of DP (hazard ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03 to 1.93) and DP due to musculoskeletal disorders (hazard ratio = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.66). In within-pair analyses, noise sensitivity increased the risk of DP: among all twin pairs, odds ratio was 1.80 (95% CI: 1.08 to 3.06). Conclusions: Noise sensitivity may be a potential risk factor for disability retirement. It is associated with DP independently of familial background and genetic factors.

Trace and heavy metals in infants, analysis of long bones from Ficana, Italy, 8–6th century bc

Abstract Long bones (mostly femurs) of 19 infants (0–14-months-old) from 8–6th century bc burials at Ficana, Italy, have been analysed for 10 major and minor elements, using particle induced X-ray and gamma-ray emission (PIXE and PIGE). Fe, Mn, Cu and Pb values were considered as being primarily the result of post-mortem conditions. Ca and Zn values may also be influenced by post-mortem conditions, but the methodological difficulties present in analysing infants might play some part in the results. Sr values most probably represented the pre-mortem conditions of the infants. Multivariate statistical techniques were used in the analysis of the results. The observed variations in strontium values may be due to social variations in the diets of infants and their mothers.

Core-periphery differences in infant mortality

The study aims to describe the development of core-periphery differences in infant mortality trends in Finland from 1950 to 1984. The infant mortality trends in core and in periphery are described at three levels of spatial hierarchy: (1) nation, (2) province and (3) local hospital region. The main findings are: (1) at the national level: (a) the differences between core and periphery in infant mortality trends disappear by the mid 1960s, mainly due to the equalization of postneonatal mortality and (b) the diminishing of postneonatal mortality stops and the diminishing of especially the first-day mortality begins about the middle of 1960s, both in core and periphery; (2) in the province of Uundenmaan lääni there are no differences in infant mortality trends between the metropolitan area of Helsinki (core) and the rest of this province (periphery); (3) in the two local hospital regions the diminishing of infant mortality is significantly slower in periphery than in core. At present there is scarcely any core-periphery variation in the trends of different components of infant mortality. This is a very remarkable fact when the achievements of the health and social policy of Finland are assessed. Several possible methodological, socio-economic, demographic and health care factors that may explain the differences in infant mortality trends between core and periphery at different levels of spatial hierarchy are discussed.