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Research group

Occupational and environmental medicine

The field of occupational medicine encompasses the study of how various exposures in the work environment affect health, including the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of work-related diseases and injuries, as well as the promotion of health and safety in the workplace. The field of environmental medicine involves the study of how environmental factors such as air pollution, chemicals, radiation, and climate change impact human health, as well as the development of measures to prevent and reduce health damage caused by these factors.

Picture on the left is of man drilling into hard mountain, dust rising from drill. Picture to the right is of a fire following a large explosion.
Photo:
Gro Tjalvin, Glenn Rogers

Main content

The research group has a wide range of research activities, focusing on both occupational and environmental medical epidemiology. Through our research, we aim to contribute to the prevention of work- and environment-related diseases and injuries, both nationally and globally. In addition to projects funded internally and externally, we also undertake larger consultancy tasks within our areas of expertise

Who are we?

Magne Bråtveit, professor, occupational hygienist
Bente Moen, professor, specialist in occupational medicine
Gro Tjalvin, associate professor, specialist in occupational medicine 
Ole Jacob Møllerløkken, associate professor, specialist in occupational medicine 
Kaja Irgens-Hansen, associate professor, specialist in occupational medicine 
Bjørg Eli Hollund, associate professor, occupational hygienist
Jorunn Kirkeleit, researcher, occupational hygienist 

Associated members:
Kari Eilidh Mikkelsen, occupational hygienist/bioengineer
Stein Håkon Låstad Lygre, statistician
Hilde Kristin Vindenes, specialist in occupational dermatology 
Abel Deresu Dufera, doctor specializing in occupational medicine
Dagrun Slettebø Daltveit, statistician 
 

Research group vision

Healthy workplaces and a healthy external environment, both nationally and globally

By conducting leading research on the relationships between exposures in the workplace or from the external environment and health effects, we will contribute to the prevention of work- and environment-related diseases and injuries, both nationally and globally. We aim to be an important educational institution in occupational and environmental medicine, and a visible societal participant in issues concerning the development of healthy workplaces and a healthy external environment.

Disputations


(Text in Norwegian)

Benzeneksponering i petroleumsnæringen på norsk sokkel | Nye doktorgrader | UiB Hilde Ridderseth 16.06.2023

Forskning for et sunnere arbeidsmiljø | Nye doktorgrader | UIB Akeza Awealom Asgedom 22.11.2019

Økt bevissthet om støy og hørsel på jobben er viktig | Nye doktorgrader | UIB Israel Paul Nyarubeli 21.10.2019

Oljesøl og eksponering for benzen | Nye doktorgrader | UiB Ingrid Gjesteland 20.03.2019 

A proper lookout. «En skikket utkikk» | Nye doktorgrader | UiB Vilhelm F Koefoed 14.09.2018 

Illeluktende avfall etter Sløvåg-ulykken og helseplager | Nye doktorgrader | UiB Gro Tjalvin 02.02.2018 

Rosedyrking i Etiopia kan skade arbeidstakernes helse | Nye doktorgrader | UIB Amare Workiye Nigatu 30.05.2017

Påvirker miljøet blodcellene våre? | Nye doktorgrader | UiB André Sulen 09.12.2016 

Luftveisplager i årene etter «Sløvågulykken» | Nye doktorgrader | UiB Jens-Tore Granslo 15.11.2016 

Støy i Sjøforsvaret | Nye doktorgrader | UiB Kaja Irgens-Hansen 06.05.2016 

Tungu, Alexander Mtemi, Bedre arbeidsmiljø i sementfabrikk, ph.d., disputas: 23.10.2013 

Sakwari, Gloria, Kaffeproduksjon og luftveisplager, ph.d., disputas: 27.09.2013 

Møllerløkken, Ole Jacob, Påvirker elektromagnetiske felt mannlig reproduksjon?, ph.d., disputas: 18.03.2013 

Zeleke, Zeyede Kebde, Oppsiktsvekkende høyt støvnivå i sementfabrikker i Etiopia, ph.d., disputas: 04.11.2011 

Waage, Siri, Skiftarbeid, søvn og helse blant norske offshorearbeidere, ph.d., disputas: 30.09.2011 

Baste, Valborg, Reproduksjonshelsen til menn i Sjøforsvaret, PhD, disputas: 20.05.2011 

Gould, Kristian, Gjør elektroniske kart militær hurtigbåtnavigasjon tryggere?, PhD, disputas: 04.09.2009 

Høivik, Dordi, Helse, miljø og sikkerhetskultur i petroleumsvirksomheten, PhD, disputas: 12.06.2009 

Magerøy, Nils, Helse og arbeidsmiljø blant ansatte i Sjøforsvaret, PhD, disputas: 08.05.2009 

Kayumba, Akwilina, Arbeidsmiljøet blant sisalprodusenter bør forbedres, PhD, disputas: 12.12.2008

Alsaker, Kjersti, Kvinner som har opplevd vold fra sin partner, dr.polit., disputas: 30.05.2008 

Bakke, Jan Vilhelm, Innemiljø og helse i universitetsbygninger i Bergen, PhD, disputas: 16.05.2008 

Steinsvåg, Kjersti, Kreftfremkallende stoffer offshore, PhD, disputas: 15.06.2007 

Kirkeleit, Jorunn, Eksponering for benzen og effekter på blod hos offshore-arbeidere, PhD, disputas: 04.05.2007 

Mamuya, Simon Henry David, Gruvearbeidere i Tanzania får luftveisplager av kullstøv, PhD, disputas: 05.12.2006 

Mwaiselage, Julius, Effekter på luftveiene ved eksponering for sementstøv, PhD, disputas: 04.02.2005 

Hollund, Bjørg Eli, Friske frisører blir i yrket, dr.philos., disputas: 20.08.2004 

Sanne, Bjarte, Angst, depresjon og arbeidsliv, dr.med., disputas: 04.06.2004 

Morken, Tone, Muskel- og skjelettplager i aluminiumindustrien, dr.philos., disputas: 06.06.2003 

Bull, Nils, Risikofaktorer for yrkesskader, dr.med., disputas: 26.04.2002

Torp, Steffen, Psykososialt arbeidsmiljø og forebygging av muskel- og skjelettplager, dr.philos., disputas: 15.02.2002 

National and international collaborating partner institutions

National:

  • Other research groups at University of Bergen
  • Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland universitetssykehus
  • Occupational Health in the North, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø
  • Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø
  • Work and Health, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Trondheim
  • Occupational Medicine Department, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim
  • Cancer registry/University of Oslo
  • STAMI – The National Institute of Occupational Health in Norway

International:

  • Utrecht University, Netherlands
  • University of Cape Town, South Africa
  • Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Tanzania
  • Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
  • Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland 
  • Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
  • Det nationale forskningscenter for arbeidsmiljø, Denmark

Commissioned research

The group can conduct commissioned research in health, environment, and safety.

We are particularly interested in projects related to HSE within:

  • Fisheries
  • Maritime work
  • Offshore work
  • Heavy industry
  • Occupational health in low- and middle-income countries

Areas where we have particular expertise:

  • Various types of pollution
    • Chemical health hazards
    • Indoor climate
    • Dust and particles
    • Oil and oil products
  • Shift work and health
  • Noise exposure and health

Potential clients include, for example, companies in Norwegian industry, organisations, authorities, and research councils.

Teaching

Medical students

Occupational medicine: workplace exposures, health effects, occupational history, management at individual and group levels, reading scientific literature

Environmental medicine: external environmental exposures, health effects, and management at the societal level

Master’s in Occupational Hygiene

Chemical and physical factors in the work environment

Supervision

Mandatory "hovedoppgave" (medical students), research track students, master’s and PhD candidates

International Courses

“Better Workplaces in Low and Middle Income Countries” (online on Futurelearn.com)

“Introduction to Global Occupational Health” (on campus)

"Chemical Hazards in the Work Environment" (online kurs hosted by Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences)