American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 141, No. 2: 123-134
Copyright © 1995 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
research-article |
Magnetic Field Exposure in Relation to Leukemia and Brain Cancer Mortality among Electric Utility Workers
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC
Reprint requests to Dr. David A. Savitz, Department of Epidemiology, Campus Box #7400, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Reports of leukemia and brain cancer among men in electrical occupations suggest a small increase in risk, but most previous studies have failed to classify magnetic field exposure accurately or to consider potential confounders. The authors conducted an historical cohort mortality study of 138,905 men employed at fivem large electric power companies in the United States between 1950 and 1986 wIth at least 6 months of work experience. Exposure was estimated by linking individual work histories to data from 2,842 workshlft magnetic field measurements. Mortality follow-up identified 20,733 deaths based on 2,656,436 person-years of experience. Death rates were analyzed in relation to magnetic field exposure history with Poisson regression. Total mortality and cancer mortality rose slightly with increasing magnetic field exposure. Leukemia mortality, however, was not associated with indices of magnetic field exposure except for work as an electrician. Brain cancer mortality was modestly elevated in relation to duration of work in exposed jobs and much more strongly associated with magnetic field exposure indices. Brain cancer risk increased by an estimated factor of 1.94 per microtesla-year of magnetic field exposure in the previous 2–10 years, with a mortality rate ratio of 2.6 in the highest exposure category. In contrast to other studies, these data do not support an association between occupational magnetic field exposure and leukemia but do suggest a link to brain cancer.
brain neoplasms; electromagnetic fields; leukemia
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L Kheifets, J D Bowman, H Checkoway, M Feychting, J M Harrington, R Kavet, G Marsh, G Mezei, D C Renew, and E van Wijngaarden Future needs of occupational epidemiology of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields: review and recommendations Occup. Environ. Med., February 1, 2009; 66(2): 72 - 80. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. B. Coble, M. Dosemeci, P. A. Stewart, A. Blair, J. Bowman, H. A. Fine, W. R. Shapiro, R. G. Selker, J. S. Loeffler, P. M. Black, et al. Occupational exposure to magnetic fields and the risk of brain tumors Neuro-oncol, January 1, 2009; 11(3): 242 - 249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. K. Karipidis, G. Benke, M. R. Sim, T. Kauppinen, and G. Giles Occupational exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and risk of glioma Occup. Med., October 1, 2007; 57(7): 518 - 524. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. A. Bullman, C. M. Mahan, H. K. Kang, and W. F. Page Mortality in US Army Gulf War Veterans Exposed to 1991 Khamisiyah Chemical Munitions Destruction Am J Public Health, August 1, 2005; 95(8): 1382 - 1388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D Loomis, D B Richardson, and L Elliott Poisson regression analysis of ungrouped data Occup. Environ. Med., May 1, 2005; 62(5): 325 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. R. Weiss, K. B. Moysich, and H. Swede Epidemiology of Male Breast Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., January 1, 2005; 14(1): 20 - 26. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Mezei RE: """ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS, POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS, AND PROSTATE CANCER MORTALITY IN ELECTRIC UTILITY WORKERS""" Am. J. Epidemiol., November 1, 2003; 158(9): 928 - 929. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G.-R. Ding, T. Nakahara, and J. Miyakoshi Induction of kinetochore-positive and kinetochore-negative micronuclei in CHO cells by ELF magnetic fields and/or X-rays Mutagenesis, September 1, 2003; 18(5): 439 - 443. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E V Willett, P A McKinney, N T Fear, R A Cartwright, and E Roman Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and acute leukaemia: analysis of a case-control study Occup. Environ. Med., August 1, 2003; 60(8): 577 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. E. Charles, D. Loomis, C. M. Shy, B. Newman, R. Millikan, L. A. Nylander-French, and D. Couper Electromagnetic Fields, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, and Prostate Cancer Mortality in Electric Utility Workers Am. J. Epidemiol., April 15, 2003; 157(8): 683 - 691. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Johansen, M. Feychting, M. Moller, P. Arnsbo, A. Ahlbom, and J. H. Olsen Risk of Severe Cardiac Arrhythmia in Male Utility Workers: A Nationwide Danish Cohort Study Am. J. Epidemiol., November 1, 2002; 156(9): 857 - 861. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E. Deadman and C. Infante-Rivard Individual Estimation of Exposures to Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields in Jobs Commonly Held by Women Am. J. Epidemiol., February 15, 2002; 155(4): 368 - 378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. J Villeneuve, D. A Agnew, K. C Johnson, and Y. Mao Brain cancer and occupational exposure to magnetic fields among men: results from a Canadian population-based case-control study Int. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2002; 31(1): 210 - 217. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D A SAVITZ Occupational exposure to magnetic fields and brain cancer Occup. Environ. Med., October 1, 2001; 58(10): 617 - 618. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T Sorahan, L Nichols, M van Tongeren, and J M Harrington Occupational exposure to magnetic fields relative to mortality from brain tumours: updated and revised findings from a study of United Kingdom electricity generation and transmission workers, 1973-97 Occup. Environ. Med., October 1, 2001; 58(10): 626 - 630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J M Harrington, L Nichols, T Sorahan, and M van Tongeren Leukaemia mortality in relation to magnetic field exposure: findings from a study of United Kingdom electricity generation and transmission workers, 1973-97 Occup. Environ. Med., May 1, 2001; 58(5): 307 - 314. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. E. Minder and D. H. Pfluger Leukemia, Brain Tumors, and Exposure to Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in Swiss Railway Employees Am. J. Epidemiol., May 1, 2001; 153(9): 825 - 835. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A. Savitz Invited Commentary: Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer in Railway Workers Am. J. Epidemiol., May 1, 2001; 153(9): 836 - 838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. A. Marino, R. M. Wolcott, R. Chervenak, F. Jourd'Heuil, E. Nilsen, and C. Frilot II Nonlinear response of the immune system to power-frequency magnetic fields Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2000; 279(3): R761 - R768. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. T. Babbitt, A. I. Kharazi, J. M.G. Taylor, C. B. Bonds, S. G. Mirell, E. Frumkin, D. Zhuang, and T. J. Hahn Hematopoietic neoplasia in C57BL/6 mice exposed to split-dose ionizing radiation and circularly polarized 60 Hz magnetic fields Carcinogenesis, July 1, 2000; 21(7): 1379 - 1389. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. M. Ansari and T. K. Hei Effects of 60 Hz extremely low frequency magnetic fields (EMF) on radiation- and chemical-induced mutagenesis in mammalian cells Carcinogenesis, June 1, 2000; 21(6): 1221 - 1226. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. J Villeneuve, D. A Agnew, A. B Miller, and P. N Corey Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among electric utility workers in Ontario: the evaluation of alternate indices of exposure to 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields Occup. Environ. Med., April 1, 2000; 57(4): 249 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. van Wijngaarden, D. A Savitz, R. C Kleckner, J. Cai, and D. Loomis Exposure to electromagnetic fields and suicide among electric utility workers: a nested case-control study Occup. Environ. Med., April 1, 2000; 57(4): 258 - 263. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. R. Adey, C. V. Byus, C. D. Cain, R. J. Higgins, R. A. Jones, C. J. Kean, N. Kuster, A. MacMurray, R. B. Stagg, and G. Zimmerman Spontaneous and Nitrosourea-induced Primary Tumors of the Central Nervous System in Fischer 344 Rats Exposed to Frequency-modulated Microwave Fields Cancer Res., April 1, 2000; 60(7): 1857 - 1863. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. M. Legler, L. A. G. Ries, M. A. Smith, J. L. Warren, E. F. Heineman, R. S. Kaplan, and M. S. Linet Brain and Other Central Nervous System Cancers: Recent Trends in Incidence and Mortality J Natl Cancer Inst, August 18, 1999; 91(16): 1382 - 1390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. G. Gurney and E. van Wijngaarden Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) and brain cancer in adults and children: Review and comment Neuro-oncol, July 1, 1999; 1(3): 212 - 220. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. A. Boorman, D. L. McCormick, J. C. Findlay, J. R. Hailey, J. R. Gauger, T. R. Johnson, R. M. Kovatch, R. C. Sills, and J. K. Haseman Chronic Toxicity/Oncogenicity Evaluation of 60 Hz (Power Frequency) Magnetic Fields in F344/N Rats Toxicol Pathol, May 1, 1999; 27(3): 267 - 278. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. L. Mccormick, G. A. Boorman, J. C. Findlay, J. R. Hailey, T. R. Johnson, J. R. Gauger, J. M. Pletcher, R. C. Sills, and J. K. Haseman Chronic Toxicity/Oncogenicity Evaluation of 60 Hz (Power Frequency) Magnetic Fields in B6C3F1 Mice Toxicol Pathol, May 1, 1999; 27(3): 279 - 285. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Lacy-hulbert, J. C. Metcalfe, and R. Hesketh Biological responses to electromagnetic fields FASEB J, April 1, 1998; 12(6): 395 - 420. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. K Verkasalo, E. Pukkala, J. Kaprio, K. V Heikkila, and M. Koskenvuo Magnetic fields of high voltage power lines and risk of cancer in Finnish adults: nationwide cohort study BMJ, October 26, 1996; 313(7064): 1047 - 1051. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|