Background

The total Danish population has been recorded for decades from cradle to grave. Each resident has a personal identification number used in all national registers, allowing linkage of information within and between registers. Most information is and has been recorded entirely for administrative purposes. Danish legislation allows Danish researchers to utilise these data to perform research of public relevance and importance on a need to know principle.

Data

The types of information recorded includes demographics and whereabouts of each person, information of family members, health, prescribed medicine, income, wealth, social benefits, bereavement, education, employment, and workplace. These data will be enriched with additional information on a need to know principle.

Methods

We utilise Statistics Denmark’s research platform to access information from Denmark’s rich population-based registers enriched with information on environmental insults such as state of art modelling of air quality, information on drinking water quality, and green space. Information on air quality will be enriched utilising personal sensors. All personal identifiable information will be analysed only through Statistics Denmark’s research platform, where download of personal identifiable information is strictly prohibited and monitored.

Current projects

• Green space and mental health (Kristine Engemann, Post Doc)

Potential topics for new PhD or Post Doc projects

• Linking diverse Big Data sources – the data science
• Air pollution as a risk factor for schizophrenia
•  The exposome and schizophrenia – which environmental factors matters most
• Air pollution as a risk factor for ADHD
• The joint effect of air pollution and genetic factors on the risk of autism