Background and activities
Research areas
A key word for my research activities and fields of interest is multidisciplinarity. Broadly speaking, the external environment's possible influences on human health is my main area. The biochemical, physiological, and toxicological roles of trace elements in medicine and biology, and their possible roles in disease, is a focus of study. A particular interest is the possible roles of metals and trace elements in neurodegenerative diseases; Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In addition, drinking water and environmental toxins other than metals and trace elements, and other types of diseases, are studied. Also, studies related to the behaviour of trace elements in nature – air, water, soil and animals – are carried out. I am also doing epidemiological studies, currently in cooperation with the Department of Public Health and General Practice at NTNU, and have been editor for the journal Norsk Epidemiologi (Norwegian Journal of Epidemiology, http://www.ntnu.no/ojs/index.php/norepid) since 1995.
On my initiative, in the 3. wave of the Nord-Trøndelag health study (HUNT), 2006-2008, one of the 5 blood samples drawn from each participant is devoted to the analysis of trace elements and other compounds which may indicate environmental exposure. The first Ph.D. candidate under my supervision using these samples, will defend her thesis in 2016. The thesis consists of a large study of normal values of trace elements in the population, and 2 case-control studies of trace elements in type 2 diabetes. The main analytical tool in these and other studies is our Department's HR-ICP-MS instrument – the most powerful analytical technique currently available for multielement analysis at low concentrations.
Scientific, academic and artistic work
A selection of recent journal publications, artistic productions, books, including book and report excerpts. See all publications in the database
Journal publications
- (2017) Exposure of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) to silver nanoparticles and 17α-ethinylestradiol mixtures: Implications for contaminant uptake and plasma steroid hormone levels. Environmental Pollution. vol. 220.
- (2017) Trace Elements in Early Phase Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – a Population-based Study. The HUNT Study in Norway. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. vol. 40.
- (2017) Trace element status in patients with type 2 diabetes in Norway: The HUNT3 Survey. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. vol. 41.
- (2016) Evaluation of Macro- and Microelement Levels in Black Tea in View of Its Geographical Origin. Biological Trace Element Research. vol. 176.
- (2016) Multi-element analysis of airborne particulate matter from different work tasks during subsea tunnel rehabilitation work. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. vol. 13 (10).
- (2015) Iron and copper in progressive demyelination: New lessons from Skogholt’s disease. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. vol. 31.
- (2015) Population data on calcium in drinking water and hip fracture: An association may depend on other minerals in water. A NOREPOS study. Bone. vol. 81.
- (2015) The neurotoxicity of iron, copper and manganese in Parkinson's and Wilson's diseases. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. vol. 31.
- (2015) Essential and non-essential elements in natural vegetation in southern Norway: Contribution from different sources. Science of the Total Environment. vol. 502.
- (2015) Do trace elements play a role in type 2 diabetes?. Kjemi.
- (2015) Ca, Mg and Fe blood levels in diabetic patients differ with disease duration and glucose-lowering treatment. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. vol. 32.
- (2015) Trace elements in whole blood in the general population in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway – the HUNT3 Survey. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. vol. 32.
- (2014) Is copper in drinking water related to risk of hip fracture? And could a possible protective associationbetween calcium and hip fracture be modified by copper?. Norsk Epidemiologi. vol. 24.
- (2014) Do cadmium, lead, and aluminum in drinking water increase the risk of hip fractures? A NOREPOS study. Biological Trace Element Research. vol. 157 (1).
- (2014) Trace elements in undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (HUNT3). Toxicology Letters. vol. 229.
- (2014) Do trace element differences in diabetic patients persist with time? The HUNT3 Survey. Toxicology Letters. vol. 229.
- (2014) Trace elements and type 2 diabetes - two case-control studies in HUNT3. Norsk Epidemiologi, Supplement. vol. 24.
- (2013) Is the quality of drinking water a risk factor for self-reported forearm fractures? Cohort of Norway. Osteoporosis International. vol. 24 (2).
- (2013) Nationwide data on municipal drinking water and hip fracture: Could calcium and magnesium be protective? A NOREPOS study. Bone. vol. 57 (1).
- (2013) Metal Concentrations in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood Plasma from Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Biological Trace Element Research. vol. 151 (2).