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Introduction: Reading literature is believed to be a cornerstone of democracy and good citizenship. With a decline in book reading and an increasing e-book market, it is of importance to follow the diffusion of e-book reading. Method: Data were collected in a large-scale, mail survey of the Swedish population aged 16 to 85 years conducted in 2012. Analysis. Bivariate analysis was used to reveal groups of users with regard to demographics, book reading habits and the frequency of reading digital texts other than e-books. A multivariate analysis was conducted to reveal the explanatory power of the model. Results: The small number of e-book readers found in the study indicates that we are at the beginning of the diffusion process. A limited number of demographic and other variables account for a significant part of the variation in e-book reading. The demographics of e-book readers differ both from traditional book readers and readers of digital newspapers and blogs. Conclusion: The penetration of reading devices in Sweden is high, which indicates a potential for e-book reading to expand and reach beyond the group of early adopters. But the development is also a question of available Swedish titles, not least in public libraries, currently the main channel for distribution to users.

The e-book has gained a large number of readers in many countries. However, the growth rate, as well as the market penetration of e-books, varies considerably between countries and language areas. In the United States and other English-speaking countries, the use of e-books is more widespread than in many European countries, such as Sweden. In both the United States and Swedish markets, the growth rate has slowed down during the latest 2 years, and the majority of readers still seem to prefer printed books. This article aims to reveal the relationship between attitudes and use of e-books and to contextualize this in relation to socio-demographic background, library use and reading habits. The results, based on national, representative surveys in Sweden during 2013 and 2014, show that people's attitudes are a significant and important factor for the choice of e-books instead of print, but this is probably a two-way relationship. It is also evident that e-books serve a complementary rather than displacement function in relation to print. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylation of mercury (Hg) to highly toxic methyl Hg (MeHg), a process known to occur when organic matter (OM) decomposition leads to anoxia, is considered a worldwide threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. We measured temporal and spatial variations in sediment MeHg, total Hg (THg), and major elements in a freshwater lagoon in Sweden polluted with Hg-laden cellulose fibers. Fiber decomposition, confined to a narrow surface layer, resulted in loss of carbon (C), uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S), and increased MeHg levels. Notably, fiber decomposition and subsequent erosion of fiber residues will cause buried contaminants to gradually come closer to the sediment-water interface. At an adjacent site where decomposed fiber accumulated, there was a gain in C and a loss of S when MeHg increased. As evidenced by correlation patterns and vertical chemical profiles, reduced S may have fueled C-fixation and Hg methylation at this site.