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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 154, No. 7 : 591-600
Copyright © 2001 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health


ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Residential Magnetic Fields, Light-at-Night, and Nocturnal Urinary 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Concentration in Women

Scott Davis1,2, William T. Kaune3, Dana K. Mirick1, Chu Chen1 and Richard G. Stevens4

1 Program in Epidemiology, Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.
2 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
3 EM Factors, Richland, WA.
4 Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT.

Exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields may increase breast cancer risk by suppressing the normal nocturnal rise in melatonin. This 1994–1996 Washington State study investigated whether such exposure was associated with lower nocturnal urinary concentration of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in 203 women aged 20–74 years with no history of breast cancer. Each woman was interviewed and provided data on the following for a 72-hour period at two different seasons of the year: 1) magnetic field and ambient light measured every 30 seconds in her bedroom, 2) personal magnetic field measured at 30-second intervals, and 3) complete nighttime urine samples on three consecutive nights. Lower nocturnal urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin level was associated with more hours of daylight, older age, higher body mass index, current alcohol consumption, and current use of medications classified as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or psychotropics. After adjustment for these factors, higher bedroom magnetic field level was associated with significantly lower urinary concentration of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin during the same night, primarily in women who used these medications and during times of the year with the fewest hours of darkness. These results suggest that exposure to nighttime residential 60-Hz magnetic fields can depress the normal nocturnal rise in melatonin.

breast neoplasms; carcinogens, environmental; circadian rhythm; electricity; electromagnetic fields; melatonin

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index


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