Occupational Exposure to High-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields and Brain Tumor Risk in the INTEROCC Study: An Individualized Assessment Approach

Details

• Personal Author:
  Benke G ; Bowman, Joseph D. ; Cardis E ; Figuerola J ; Gracia-Lavedan E ; Hours M ; Kincl, Laurel ; Krewski D ; McLean D ; Parent M-E ; Richardson L ; Sadetzki S ; Schlaefer K ; Schlehofer B ; Schüz J ; Siemiatycki J ; Turner MC ; van Tongeren M ; Vila J
• Description:
  Introduction: In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) as possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B), although the epidemiological evidence for the association between occupational exposure to RF-EMF and cancer was judged to be inadequate, due in part to limitations in exposure assessment. This study examines the relation between occupational RF and intermediate frequency (IF) EMF exposure and brain tumor (glioma and meningioma) risk in the INTEROCC multinational population-based case-control study (with nearly 4000 cases and over 5000 controls), using a novel exposure assessment approach. Methods: Individual indices of cumulative exposure to RF and IF-EMF (overall and in specific exposure time windows) were assigned to study participants using a source-exposure matrix and detailed interview data on work with or nearby EMF sources. Conditional logistic regression was used to investigate associations with glioma and meningioma risk. Results: Overall, around 10% of study participants were exposed to RF while only 1% were exposed to IF-EMF. There was no clear evidence for a positive association between RF or IF-EMF and the brain tumors studied, with most results showing either no association or odds ratios (ORs) below 1.0. The largest adjusted ORs were obtained for cumulative exposure to RF magnetic fields (as A/m-years) in the highest exposed category (?90th percentile) for the most recent exposure time window (1-4 years before the diagnosis or reference date) for both glioma, OR=1.62 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86, 3.01) and meningioma (OR=1.52, 95% CI: 0.65, 3.55). Conclusion: Despite the improved exposure assessment approach used in this study, no clear associations were identified. However, the results obtained for recent exposure to RF electric and magnetic fields are suggestive of a potential role in brain tumor promotion/progression and should be further investigated. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carcinogens Electromagnetic Fields Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Men Neoplasms Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Women Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Brain Cancer Brain Function Brain Tumors Cancer Electromagnetic Fields EMF Exposure Levels Humans Intermediate Frequency Radiofrequency Risk Factors Source-exposure Matrix Work Environment Workers

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• ISSN:
  0160-4120
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; Oregon ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  353-365
• Volume:
  119
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052109
• Citation:
  Environ Int 2018 Oct; 119:353-365
• Contact Point Address:
  Javier Vilaa, ISGlobal - Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona, Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
• Email:
  javier.vila@isglobal.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental International
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3cf59bd5a90f8a2560e8eef0c65519244d25bf8a8a3f89ff8b188e0590cc727888ae4630010fd90d87b36fc74376928abe027b1689b2ec378ed12a513a232b2d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211700/cdc_211700_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 445.66 KB ]