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https://nordictimes.com/health/chemical-levels-vary-widely-among-swedish-youth/

Health

Chemical levels vary widely among Swedish youth

Published 27 January 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Chemicals are found in products such as makeup and skincare.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Levels of chemicals in Swedish youth vary widely, according to a doctoral thesis from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Factors such as gender, place of birth and place of residence have a major impact on levels.

Chemicals are becoming increasingly common in our environment and accumulate in the human body through constant exposure. Despite their ubiquity, knowledge of their health effects is still limited.

In his doctoral thesis, Sebastian Pineda investigated chemical levels in Swedish adolescents, their exposure to these substances and potential health risks. The samples were collected via the Swedish National Food Agency’s project Riksmaten Ungdom.

Pineda’s research focused on long-lived chemicals that can stay in the body for years, including harmful metals and organic pollutants such as chlorinated, brominated or fluorinated substances, such as PFAS chemicals. He also studied short-lived chemicals that leave the body quickly but are found in everyday products such as makeup, skincare and plastics.

Country of birth can influence

The results show that Swedish adolescents are exposed to a “chemical cocktail” similar to that observed in other highly industrialized countries, such as the United States. However, factors such as gender and place of birth play a crucial role in the levels of different substances.

Young people born in Sweden or other industrialized countries had higher levels of persistent chemicals compared to young people born in developing countries.

– More surprisingly, country of birth also had a clear impact on levels of substances that are excreted from the body quite quickly. However, in our data, there is no information on possible sources of exposure that could help us explain this, said Pineda in a press release.

At the same time, some exceptions were noted, such as a breakdown product of DDT and a component of lindane – two insecticides banned in Sweden. Young people born in developing countries had significantly higher levels of these substances compared to Swedish adolescents.

Different for girls and boys

The study revealed clear gender differences. For example, boys had higher levels of chromium, mercury and lead than girls. One possible explanation is that boys generally eat larger amounts of food and thus ingest more metals. Another explanation could be that older girls lose some chemicals through menstrual blood.

Girls generally had higher levels of chemicals found in makeup and skincare products, as well as higher levels of cadmium. In addition, the results showed that exposure to certain substances differs between northern and southern Sweden.

– Levels of these flame retardants and plastic chemicals were higher in young people in the north. We suspect that this is related to living conditions, as we know that the indoor environment is an important pathway for these substances, says Sebastian Pineda.

Chemical mixtures and the immune system

Pineda and his colleagues also investigated the potential impact of chemical mixtures on the immune system of adolescents in the context of vaccination. The study analyzed the link between exposure and antibody levels in the blood after vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP), and measles and rubella (MR). However, the associations were considered weak and uncertain.

– The mixture exposures did not seem to be high enough to have a clear impact on the levels of antibodies against DTP and MMR, but my thesis is only a first investigation of possible chemical mixture effects on the complex immune system in adolescents, says Pineda.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/health/sauerkraut-may-help-your-stomach/

Health

Sauerkraut may help your stomach

Published today 10:23
– By Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Sauerkraut may protect the intestinal lining from inflammation, according to an American study. During fermentation, the nutritional content of cabbage changes – including an increase in levels of lactic acid, amino acids, and other beneficial substances that are formed during the breakdown and can promote gut health.

Fermentation is a natural process where microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria and yeast break down sugars in food. This often results in the conversion of sugar into lactic acid or alcohol. The process not only helps preserve the food – it also produces probiotics, meaning live bacteria that are beneficial for the gut.

Fermented foods have been eaten for thousands of years around the world. For example, eating fermented vegetables makes the nutrients in the food easier for the body to absorb, and some studies show that vitamin levels can actually increase. There are also studies that suggest fermented foods can have positive effects on health, particularly for digestion and the immune system.

Sauerkraut better than raw cabbage

Researchers at the University of California Davis in the USA tested whether the nutrients in sauerkraut could help protect intestinal cells from inflammation-related damage. The study compared sauerkraut, raw cabbage, and the brine left over after the cabbage fermentation process.

The experiments were conducted on an artificial intestinal wall exposed to inflammation by adding so-called cytokines – which are known to damage the intestinal lining. These can be activated in the gut, for example, by consuming too much ultra-processed food or too much sugar or salt.

Fermentation increases beneficial substances

The results showed that sauerkraut can protect the intestinal lining from inflammation caused by cytokines. Raw cabbage and the brine, however, did not help protect the gut. It didn’t matter whether the sauerkraut was store-bought or homemade.

Chemical analyses show that fermentation changes the nutritional profile of cabbage and increases the amount of beneficial metabolites such as lactic acid, amino acids, and plant compounds, which in turn are linked to gut health. These changes may explain why fermented foods are often associated with digestive benefits.

– Some of the metabolites we find in the sauerkraut are the same kind of metabolites we’re finding to be made by the gut microbiome, so that gives us a little more confidence that this connection we found between the metabolites in sauerkraut and good gut health makes sense, says Professor Maria Marco in a press release.

The researchers have found hundreds of different metabolites that are formed during fermentation and that they are now working to determine which ones play the biggest role in supporting long-term gut health. The next step in the research is to conduct studies in humans to see if the gut-protective metabolites found in sauerkraut can have the same positive effects when included in the daily diet, as was shown in the lab.

– A little bit of sauerkraut could go a long way, she says. We should be thinking about including these fermented foods in our regular diets and not just as a side on our hot dogs.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-study-climate-smart-school-lunch-may-cause-iron-deficiency/

Sweden

Swedish study: “Climate smart” school lunch may cause iron deficiency

Published 9 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

When schools implement “climate-smart” school lunches, by replacing meat with plant-based food, the amount of iron absorbed by the body decreases. Teenage girls are particularly affected, according to a thesis from the University of Gothenburg.

The thesis collected data through a survey sent to the municipalities’ food services, where 167 of Sweden’s 290 municipalities responded. Furthermore, 76 school menus were analyzed over a four-week period.

The results show that none of the analyzed menus provided enough absorbable iron for girls who have a higher need. Often, beef is replaced with plant-based protein sources such as soy to make them more so-called climate-friendly, but even though soy is high in iron, the body cannot absorb it all.

– Soy-based dishes are high in iron, but the body can only absorb around 3% of it. For girls, who have high iron requirements, this is particularly problematic, says Mari Wollmar, author of the thesis, in a press release.

In comparison, the body was able to absorb about 14% of the iron from beef-based dishes, which are thought to have the highest climate impact.

Furthermore, the research shows that it is often women who eat less meat, and more food that is said to have less climate impact. This makes them more vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies.

Wollmar has developed a “hybrid recipe” that combines plant-based ingredients with a small amount of meat and vitamin C-rich foods that increase iron absorption.

– These recipes reduced the climate impact by 38%, while the nutritional content was sufficient and the taste was appreciated by a test panel, says Wollmar.

A recently published study from Lund University shows that more than one in three Swedish female high school students is iron deficient. The risk was particularly high among vegans and vegetarians.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/viking-era-cultural-heritage-site-in-sweden-looted-in-overnight-raid/

Sweden

Viking-era cultural heritage site in Sweden looted in overnight raid

Published 8 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Anundshög is usually described as one of Sweden's most important ancient monument areas.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

This week, the important ancient site Anundshög was subjected to extensive looting – apparently with the help of a metal detector.

– First you get angry, and then you just feel empty. It’s actually hard to find the words, says the disheartened archaeologist Sara Wisén Saveca.

Someone, or several people, under the cover of darkness, dug over 50 holes of varying sizes in the ground at the Viking-era heritage site outside Västerås.

The incident has caused dismay among both experts and the public. Although archaeologists believe that historical objects once buried there are now gone, it remains unclear what treasures the looters actually made off with.

– Some likely used a metal detector and dug into the ground where they got a signal. They have removed things that we would want to excavate archaeologically in order to gain knowledge about the Viking Age, says Nina Eklöf, director of Västerås Museums.

“Been here for thousands of years”

She’s keeping her fingers crossed that the thieves were unlucky and only found modern, lost objects, such as iron nails and horseshoes – but points out that they could just as easily be artifacts from the Bronze Age or other historical eras now lost to science.

– Since this place is still one of the sites in Sweden that holds a wealth of knowledge, they may also have taken important information with them that could help us understand this Viking-era site.

– It’s impossible to explain the feeling of how something can so quickly destroy something that has been here for thousands of years, she continues.

“Vandalism against our shared cultural heritage”

A report has been filed with the police, who say they have visited nearby residents in the hope that someone may have observed the thieves.

Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand (M) is one of many who have drawn attention to the crime and says that the incident makes her “furious“.

“This is not just theft – this is a purely indecent act of vandalism against our shared cultural heritage”, she noted on social media.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A historically important site

Anundshög is Sweden's largest burial mound and is located in Badelunda, about five kilometers east of Västerås in Västmanland. The burial mound measures about nine meters in height and has a diameter of 64 to 68 meters. It was built during the Late Iron Age, sometime between 500 and 1050 AD, and is believed to have been a central place for the exercise of power and events during this period. During the Middle Ages, the area was also used as a courthouse.

The area around Anundshög is rich in archaeological remains, including several shipwrecks, smaller burial mounds, stone circles, a labyrinth and a remarkable rune stone – Vs 13 – which is over three meters high. The rune inscription reads: ”Folkvid erected all these stones after his son Heden, Anund's brother. Vred cut the runes. ”

According to tradition, the medieval Eriksgatan, the historical route that newly elected kings traveled along to be recognized by the provinces, passed Anundshög, as marked by erected stones along the way. Today, Anundshög is a well-visited cultural heritage site with guided tours, information signs and regular events such as Archaeology Day.

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/cleared-in-swedish-court-sami-hunter-may-still-lose-firearm-license/

Sweden

Cleared in Swedish court – Sami hunter may still lose firearm license

Published 8 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Since the man is acquitted - but the Court of Appeal considers that a (prescribed) hunting offense still took place, Larsson still risks losing his firearms license.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Peter Larsson, from the Maskaure Sami village, acquitted of serious hunting crime charges. Despite this, he may still lose his firearms license.

– I feel incredibly disappointed, he says.

The Court of Appeal for Upper Norrland states in the ruling that Peter Larsson did not use a snowmobile in an unlawful manner during a protective hunt, and that the two bears were also not subjected to unnecessary suffering. Thus, he is fully acquitted of the serious hunting crime he was previously charged with, reports Jakt & Jägare.

At the same time, the court notes deficiencies in communication with the County Administrative Board, as well as the fact that Larsson provided incorrect coordinates for the location where the bear was shot. This is considered a standard-degree hunting offense – but since it is statute-barred, he cannot be convicted for it.

Nevertheless, the consequences could be significant. Since the statute of limitations rules differ for legal entities, the Maskaure Sami village is ordered to pay a corporate fine of SEK 30,000 (€2,700).

– The corporate fine feels so wrong, but at the same time it’s a relief that the legal process is over, comments Larsson.

– It is terrible to be an honest person and be accused of a crime.

The firearms issue may be revisited

The question now is how the Police Authority views Larsson’s firearm ownership, given that the Court of Appeal, despite the acquittal, states that a (statute-barred) hunting offense did occur.

– It’s definitely not to the person’s advantage. If I were the decision-maker, I would take a closer look at this case, says Nils-Olov Gärdin, head of one of the police firearms units.

However, he emphasizes that more circumstances must be considered – including how much time has passed, which could work in Larsson’s favor.

After the district court’s acquittal in December 2023, Peter Larsson requested the return of his confiscated hunting weapons. The police initially said no, citing the prosecutor’s appeal. However, the Court of Administrative Appeals sided with Larsson, and the weapons were returned.

Criticizes the Court of Appeal’s assessment

Attorney Sven Severin, who represented Peter Larsson throughout the legal process, is also critical of the Court of Appeal’s reasoning:

– The court has not taken into account the reality of conducting protective hunts in roadless areas, he says.

He argues that the shortcomings pointed out by the court – such as the incorrect specification of the shooting location – should be considered trivial.

Severin is particularly critical of the fact that the court asserts a crime was committed, without this being stated in the verdict. This makes it impossible to appeal the wording.

– It’s reminiscent of the da Costa case, where two doctors were acquitted of murder but the court still concluded they had dismembered the body – a crime that was statute-barred at the time.

Sven Severin believes that the legal process, which has lasted six years, should now come to an end – including the issue of firearms.

– That the police would act again after all these years, I find inconceivable.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Maskaure case in brief

In May 2019, Maskaure Sami village was granted a protective hunt for bears in Arjeplog. Two bears were killed during the hunt, but shortly afterwards a criminal investigation was launched into a serious hunting offense, which led to the hunters' weapons being confiscated. Two years later, in May 2021, four members of the Sami village were charged. According to the prosecutor, the hunt had been carried out in violation of the guidelines set by the County Administrative Board.

However, when the trial began in October 2022, it was interrupted early after lawyers raised objections and Luleå District Court ruled that there were obstacles to the trial. It was not until November 2023 that a new trial could be held.

A month later, in December 2023, all four people were acquitted by the district court. Despite this, the prosecutor chose to appeal the verdict against the chairman of the Sami village, Peter Larsson, while the other three were given their weapons back.

November 2024 also saw the return of the weapons.

In November 2024, Larsson also got his weapons back. In April 2025, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment, acquitting Larsson. However, the Sami village was ordered to pay a corporate fine of SEK 30,000 (€2,700).

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