Research
My PhD project is within the SELMA-study. This is an on-going longitudinal study of Värmland children that aims to investigate how exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) early in life affects childrens health later in life.
The focus of my project is on chronic inflammatory airway health outcomes like croup and asthma in relation to EDC exposure during pregnancy and after birth. The number of children with asthma has increased during the last decades and it is unclear exactly why some children develop these conditions. Both genetic and environmental factors are likely to contribute.
The relationship between airway health effects and exposure to a group or EDCs called phthalets are of particular interest in my project. Several phthalates are known to have EDC properties and some are today restricted and banned in toys. However, we might still have products containing these chemicals in our homes, for instance in PVC flooring. This has been linked to a greater risk of children to develop asthma.
In my project I will look at how phthalate levels in indoor dust in early life may relate to airway health outcomes in children as they grow up.