Occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and brain tumor risk: application of

Abstract

Occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and brain tumor risk: application of the INTEROCC job-exposure matrix Maxime Turuban, Hans Kromhout, Javier Vila, Miquel Vallbona-Vistos, Frank de Vocht , Baldi, L Richardson, G Benke, D Krewski, E Parent, S Sadetzki, B Schlehofer, J Schuz, J Siemiatycki, M van Tongeren, A Woodward, E Cardis, M Turner. Occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and brain tumor risk: application of the INTEROCC job-exposure matrix. International J Cancer. First published: 20 September 2024. doi: 10.1002/ijc.35182. Abstract Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF, 100 kHz to 300 GHz) are classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). This study evaluates the potential association between occupational RF-EMF exposure and brain tumor risk, utilizing for the first time, a RF-EMF job-exposure matrix (RF- JEM) developed in the multi-country INTEROCC case-control study. Cumulative and time-weighted average occupational RF-EMF exposures were estimated for study participants based on lifetime job histories linked to the RF-JEM using three different methods: 1) by considering RF-EMF intensity among all exposed jobs, 2) by considering RF-EMF intensity among jobs with an exposure prevalence ≥ the median exposure prevalence of all exposed jobs, and 3) by considering RF-EMF intensity of jobs of participants who reported RF-EMF source use. Stratified conditional logistic regression models were used, considering various lag periods and exposure time windows defined a priori. Generally, no clear associations were found for glioma or meningioma risk. However, some statistically significant positive associations were observed including in the highest exposure categories for glioma for cumulative and time-weighted average exposure in the 1-4 year time window for electric fields (E) in the first JEM application method (ORs = 1.36, 95% CI 1.08, 1.72 64 and 1.27, 95% CI 1.01, 1.59 respectively), as well as for meningioma for cumulative exposure in the 5-9 year time window for electric fields (E) in the third JEM application method (OR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.11, 4.78). We did not identify convincing associations between occupational RF-EMF exposure and risk of glioma or meningioma. What's New? Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Here, the authors applied a novel job-exposure matrix to investigate the link between occupational radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure and brain tumors within the multi-country INTEROCC case–control study. The findings revealed no clear associations, despite some positive findings for gliomas and meningiomas in the 1- to 4- and 5- to 9-year exposure windows. The study underlines the applicability of the job-exposure matrix in occupational research and the need to further investigate the association between brain tumors and occupational radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure Conclusions The previous SEM-based and the current JEM-based analyses (with three ways of linking the JEM to participant job histories) produced similar results that fail to show clear trends of associations between various RF-EMF exposure measures and either glioma or meningioma risk. Nevertheless, interpretation of current findings remains challenging. The method of linking JEM estimates to a job only when RF source use was self-reported led to significantly lower exposure prevalences and similarly did not suggest clear evidence of increased risk from occupational IF-RF/RF-EMF exposures. Findings suggest that the RF-JEM could potentially be used in studies without self-reported information available on working with or near RF sources. While we generally found no associations or inverse associations overall, a few positive associations between exposure to IF-RF/RF in cumulative and TWA exposure analyses were found with glioma in Method 1 in the highest exposure category in the 1- to 4-year time window of exposure, and with meningioma in Method 3 in the 5- to 9-year window prior to diagnosis/reference date. However, these statistically significant results, not consistent across analysis methods, could be due to chance, and will require verification in other independent studies. Integrating additional criteria when using JEM, such as exposure prevalence similar to Method 2 in this paper, when attributing exposure levels could be considered in further work. Future improvements of the RF-JEM, including by collecting and integrating personally measured exposure data could be considered. Open access paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Overall, the study reports no clear associations between occupational RF-EMF exposure (cumulative and time-weighted average) and risk of glioma or meningioma across analyses using an RF job-exposure matrix. Some statistically significant positive associations were observed in specific exposure windows and methods (e.g., glioma in the highest exposure category for electric fields in the 1–4 year window in Method 1; meningioma for cumulative electric-field exposure in the 5–9 year window in Method 3), but these were not consistent across methods and were noted as potentially due to chance.

Outcomes measured

• Glioma risk
• Meningioma risk

Limitations

• Exposure estimated via job-exposure matrix linkage methods rather than personal measurements
• Some statistically significant findings were not consistent across JEM application methods and exposure windows
• Interpretation described as challenging; possibility that some positive findings could be due to chance
• Method relying on self-reported RF source use led to lower exposure prevalences

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.95)
  Study evaluates occupational RF-EMF exposure using a job-exposure matrix and brain tumor risk in a multi-country case-control design.

{
    "study_type": "case_control",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "occupational",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "lifetime job histories; analyses with lag periods and predefined exposure time windows (e.g., 1–4 years, 5–9 years)"
    },
    "population": "Participants in the multi-country INTEROCC case-control study (cases: glioma, meningioma; controls not further described in abstract)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Glioma risk",
        "Meningioma risk"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Overall, the study reports no clear associations between occupational RF-EMF exposure (cumulative and time-weighted average) and risk of glioma or meningioma across analyses using an RF job-exposure matrix. Some statistically significant positive associations were observed in specific exposure windows and methods (e.g., glioma in the highest exposure category for electric fields in the 1–4 year window in Method 1; meningioma for cumulative electric-field exposure in the 5–9 year window in Method 3), but these were not consistent across methods and were noted as potentially due to chance.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure estimated via job-exposure matrix linkage methods rather than personal measurements",
        "Some statistically significant findings were not consistent across JEM application methods and exposure windows",
        "Interpretation described as challenging; possibility that some positive findings could be due to chance",
        "Method relying on self-reported RF source use led to lower exposure prevalences"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "occupational exposure",
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
        "RF-EMF",
        "INTEROCC",
        "job-exposure matrix",
        "RF-JEM",
        "brain tumors",
        "glioma",
        "meningioma",
        "conditional logistic regression",
        "lag period",
        "time window"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
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            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Study evaluates occupational RF-EMF exposure using a job-exposure matrix and brain tumor risk in a multi-country case-control design."
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}

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