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EMF Study
(Database last updated on Mar 27, 2024)

ID Number 1886
Study Type Epidemiology
Model ELF exposure and brain cancer and leukemia in children (individual studies and meta-analysis).
Details

Meta-analysis from 13 epidemiologic studies (12 case-control + 1 cohort) on brain cancer. The authors report an overall odds ratio of 0.88 (95% CI 0.571.37) for residential proximity within 50 meters of high power lines, an odds ratio of 1.14 (95% CI 76 0.78 1.67) for ELF exposure above 0.2 microT, and an odds ratio of 1.68 (95% CI 0.833.43) for ELF exposure above 0.3 microT. AUTHORS ABSTRACT: Kheifets et al. 2010 (IEEE #5111): BACKGROUND: Previous pooled analyses have reported an association between magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. We present a pooled analysis based on primary data from studies on residential magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia published after 2000. METHODS: Seven studies with a total of 10 865 cases and 12 853 controls were included. The main analysis focused on 24-h magnetic field measurements or calculated fields in residences. RESULTS: In the combined results, risk increased with increase in exposure, but the estimates were imprecise. The odds ratios for exposure categories of 0.10.2 mT, 0.20.3 mT and X0.3 mT, compared with o0.1 mT, were 1.07 (95% CI 0.811.41), 1.16 (0.691.93) and 1.44 (0.882.36), respectively. Without the most influential study from Brazil, the odds ratios increased somewhat. An increasing trend was also suggested by a nonparametric analysis conducted using a generalised additive model. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are in line with previous pooled analyses showing an association between magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. Overall, the association is weaker in the most recently conducted studies, but these studies are small and lack methodological improvements needed to resolve the apparent association. We conclude that recent studies on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia do not alter the previous assessment that magnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic.

Findings No Effects
Status Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator Electric Power Research Institute, California - gmezei@epri.com
Funding Agency Private/Instit.
Country UNITED STATES
References
  • Greenland, S et al. Scand J Public Health, (2009) 37:83-92
  • Mezei, G et al. Epidemiology, (2008) 19:424-430
  • Kheifets, L et al. British Journal of Cancer., (2010) 103:1128-1135
  • Sorahan, T et al. American journal of industrial medicine., (1999) 35:348-357
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