Urbanization and traffic related exposures as risk factors for schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Urban birth or upbringing increase schizophrenia risk. Though unknown, the causes of these urban-rural differences have been hypothesized to include, e.g., infections, diet, toxic exposures, social class, or an artefact due to selective migration.

Methods

We investigated the hypothesis that traffic related exposures affect schizophrenia risk and that this potential effect is responsible for the urban-rural differences. The geographical distance from place of residence to nearest major road was used as a proxy variable for traffic related exposures. We used a large population-based sample of the Danish population (1.89 million people) including information on all permanent addresses linked with geographical information on all roads and house numbers in Denmark. Sch

SUBMITTER: Pedersen CB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1386659 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature