Electromagnetic fields and cancer risks.

Abstract

Cancer was first associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in 1979 when Wertheimer and Leeper reported that children dying from cancer resided more often in homes believed to be exposed to higher EMF than did healthy control children. The risks were as high as 2.23 (1.56-3.18) 3.09 (1.68-5.71) for all cancers, 2.98 (1.72-5.15) for leukemia and 2.40 (1.08-5.36) for brain cancers. Wire configuration around houses was used as a surrogate for direct EMF exposure measurements. Wertheimer's finding of an association between cancer and wire configuration around houses has been replicated in two recent studies. However, direct measurement of EMF fields in houses of cancer children have not yielded the same results as the wire configuration around houses, thereby jeopardizing the hypothesis of an association between EMF and cancer. To comprehend the putative association between residential exposure to EMF and childhood cancer, one would have to understand what is hidden behind the notion of 'wire configuration' around the house. In parallel with residential studies, scores of studies were conducted among workers occupationally exposed to EMF. What have we learned from these occupational studies? Hypotheses generating and case control studies have revealed the existence of an excess risk of leukemia among electrical workers. Pooled results have estimated the risk for all leukemia to be 1.18 (1.09-1.29) and for acute myeloid leukemia 1.46 (1.27-1.64). An increased risk of leukemia among electrical workers does not necessarily mean that EMF is a causal agent, other chemicals such as benzene, creosote, solvent, could possibly account for it but this has yet to be confirmed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

The review summarizes early residential studies reporting higher cancer risks in children associated with higher-EMF surrogate measures (wire configuration), with reported elevated risks for all cancers, leukemia, and brain cancer. It notes that while wire-configuration associations were replicated in some studies, direct in-home EMF measurements in case homes did not yield the same results, challenging the hypothesis. Occupational studies are summarized as showing an excess risk of leukemia among electrical workers, with pooled estimates reported for all leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, while emphasizing potential confounding by other exposures (e.g., benzene, creosote, solvents).

Outcomes measured

• Cancer (all)
• Childhood leukemia
• Brain cancer
• Leukemia (all)
• Acute myeloid leukemia

Limitations

• Exposure assessment in residential studies relied on wire configuration as a surrogate rather than direct EMF measurements
• Direct EMF measurements in homes did not replicate wire-configuration associations (as described)
• Occupational findings may be confounded by non-EMF exposures (e.g., benzene, creosote, solvents)
• Abstract is truncated; full set of conclusions and methods not available

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.86)
  Discusses multiple occupational studies of electrical workers and pooled leukemia risk estimates.

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    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "residential power-line/wiring configuration; occupational electrical work",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Children (residential exposure studies) and electrical workers (occupational studies)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Cancer (all)",
        "Childhood leukemia",
        "Brain cancer",
        "Leukemia (all)",
        "Acute myeloid leukemia"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The review summarizes early residential studies reporting higher cancer risks in children associated with higher-EMF surrogate measures (wire configuration), with reported elevated risks for all cancers, leukemia, and brain cancer. It notes that while wire-configuration associations were replicated in some studies, direct in-home EMF measurements in case homes did not yield the same results, challenging the hypothesis. Occupational studies are summarized as showing an excess risk of leukemia among electrical workers, with pooled estimates reported for all leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, while emphasizing potential confounding by other exposures (e.g., benzene, creosote, solvents).",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure assessment in residential studies relied on wire configuration as a surrogate rather than direct EMF measurements",
        "Direct EMF measurements in homes did not replicate wire-configuration associations (as described)",
        "Occupational findings may be confounded by non-EMF exposures (e.g., benzene, creosote, solvents)",
        "Abstract is truncated; full set of conclusions and methods not available"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "EMF",
        "cancer risk",
        "childhood cancer",
        "leukemia",
        "brain cancer",
        "wire configuration",
        "residential exposure",
        "occupational exposure",
        "electrical workers",
        "confounding"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Discusses multiple occupational studies of electrical workers and pooled leukemia risk estimates."
        }
    ]
}

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