Exposure to EMF of High Voltage Overhead Power Lines and Female Infertility

Abstract

Exposure to EMF of High Voltage Overhead Power Lines and Female Infertility Esmailzadeh S, Delavar MA, Aleyassin A, Gholamian SA, Ahmadi A. Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields of High Voltage Overhead Power Lines and Female Infertility. Int J Occup Environ Med. 2019 Jan;10(1):11-16. doi: 10.15171/ijoem.2019.1429. Abstract BACKGROUND: Living in the vicinity of high voltage power lines has brought about a range of health woes, but the effect of residential exposure to electromagnetic fields from the power lines on female fertility has not been explored yet. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis if residential proximity to high voltage power lines could be associated with the increased risk of female infertility. METHODS: In a case-control study, 462 women with confirmed diagnosis of unexplained infertility or behavioral and environmental factors were assessed between February 2014 and December 2016. Control group comprised of 471 persons with no history of infertility selected using randomized-digit dialing from the numbers registered in a birth registry between 2014 and 2016. The nearest linear distance from high voltage power lines to the participants' residence of cases and controls was measured using a Geographical Information System (GIS) and Google Earth aerial evaluation for high voltage power lines (240-400 kV). RESULTS: 112 (14.1%) houses were within 500 meters from a high voltage power line. Women living within 500 meters of the lines (OR 4.14, 95% CI 2.61 to 6.57) and 500-1000 meters of the line (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.47) carried a significantly higher risk of infertility than those women living more than 1000 meters away from the power lines. After adjusting for confounding factors, women living within 500 meters of the lines carried a higher risk (aOR 4.44, 95% CI 2.77 to 7.11) of infertility compared with women living more than 1000 meters of the lines. CONCLUSION: The current safety guidelines for electromagnetic fields exposure seems to be not adequate for protecting people from the hazardous effects of the field. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In this case-control study using GIS/Google Earth to measure distance to 240–400 kV overhead power lines, women living within 500 m had higher odds of infertility than those living >1000 m away (OR 4.14, 95% CI 2.61–6.57; adjusted OR 4.44, 95% CI 2.77–7.11). Women living 500–1000 m away also had higher odds than those >1000 m away (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.05–2.47).

Outcomes measured

• Female infertility (risk/odds of infertility)

Limitations

• Exposure characterized by residential distance to power lines rather than direct EMF measurements
• Case-control design (susceptible to confounding and selection/recall biases)
• Details on confounders and adjustment variables not provided in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.35)
  Published in an occupational/environmental medicine journal and concerns environmental exposure assessment, though exposure is residential rather than workplace.

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    "study_type": "case_control",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "high voltage overhead power lines (residential proximity)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Residential proximity assessed; study period February 2014 to December 2016"
    },
    "population": "Women (cases: confirmed diagnosis of unexplained infertility or behavioral/environmental factors; controls: no history of infertility)",
    "sample_size": 933,
    "outcomes": [
        "Female infertility (risk/odds of infertility)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In this case-control study using GIS/Google Earth to measure distance to 240–400 kV overhead power lines, women living within 500 m had higher odds of infertility than those living >1000 m away (OR 4.14, 95% CI 2.61–6.57; adjusted OR 4.44, 95% CI 2.77–7.11). Women living 500–1000 m away also had higher odds than those >1000 m away (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.05–2.47).",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure characterized by residential distance to power lines rather than direct EMF measurements",
        "Case-control design (susceptible to confounding and selection/recall biases)",
        "Details on confounders and adjustment variables not provided in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "EMF",
        "high voltage power lines",
        "overhead power lines",
        "residential proximity",
        "GIS",
        "female infertility",
        "case-control",
        "240-400 kV"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Published in an occupational/environmental medicine journal and concerns environmental exposure assessment, though exposure is residential rather than workplace."
        }
    ]
}

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