Premium
The potential impact of bias in studies of residential exposure to magnetic fields and childhood leukemia
Author(s) -
Wartenberg Daniel
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/1521-186x(2001)22:5+<::aid-bem1022>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - childhood leukemia , bioelectromagnetics , leukemia , environmental health , medicine , exposure assessment , childhood leukaemia , magnetic field , pediatrics , physics , immunology , lymphoblastic leukemia , quantum mechanics
Bias can have a major impact on the results of epidemiologic studies. In investigations of the possible association between residential exposure to magnetic fields and the occurrence of childhood leukemia, many have raised questions about selection bias, including participation bias and information bias. In this review, the data on these possible sources of bias are summarized and their likely impact is evaluated. Most data suggest that if a bias exists, it is a bias towards the lack of association between exposure to magnetic fields and childhood leukemia. In addition, given the wide variety of study populations and measurement protocols, it is unlikely that a single design flaw has resulted in consistent effects across all studies and can be the sole explanation for the reported associations. Bioelectromagnetics Supplement 5:S32–S47, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.