Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in relation to leukemia and brain tumors: a case-control study in Sweden

摘要: Occupational exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) was studied in 250 leukemia patients and 261 brain-tumor cases, diagnosed 1983-87 compared with a control group of 1,121 randomly selected men, from the mid-region Sweden, 1983-87. We based assessment on measurements 1,015 different workplaces. On basis job held longest during 10-year period before diagnosis, we found an association between average, daily, mean level EMF chronic lymphocytic (CLL). The risk increased increasing exposure. odds ratios (OR) 95 percent confidence interval (CI) for three consecutive levels were: 1.1 (CI = 0.5-2.3); 2.2 1.1-4.3); 3.0 1.6-5.8), respectively. No observed acute myeloid (OR 1.0, CI 0.5-1.8; OR 0.8, 0.4-1.6; 0.6-1.9). For brain tumors, corresponding estimates were 1.0 0.7-1.6); 1.5 1.0-2.2); 1.4 0.9-2.1). Different indices tested. Tasks frequent or large variations high low field-densities (high standard deviation) more common among CLL subjects. prolonged median values) showed strongest association. Confounding by place residence, smoking, benzene, ionizing radiation, pesticides, solvents evaluated, these factors did not seem have decisive influence associations. also analyzed other potential sources bias. CLL, there indications excess number low-exposure subjects non-responders, which, some extent, may enhanced but caused obtained. Our conclusion is that study supports hypothesis occupational hazard development certain cancers.