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Case‐control study on occupational exposure to extremely low‐frequency electromagnetic fields and glioma risk
Author(s) -
Carlberg Michael,
Koppel Tarmo,
Ahonen Mikko,
Hardell Lennart
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22707
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , odds ratio , astrocytoma , job exposure matrix , occupational exposure , occupational medicine , glioma , case control study , demography , surgery , environmental health , cancer research , sociology
Background Exposure to extremely low‐frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF‐EMF) was in 2002 classified as a possible human carcinogen, Group 2B, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer at WHO. Methods Life time occupations were assessed in case‐control studies during 1997‐2003 and 2007‐2009. An ELF‐EMF Job‐Exposure Matrix was used for associating occupations with ELF exposure (μT). Cumulative exposure (μT‐years), average exposure (μT), and maximum exposed job (μT) were calculated. Results Cumulative exposure gave for astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme) in the time window 1‐14 years odds ratio (OR) = 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4‐2.6, p linear trend <0.001, and in the time window 15+ years OR = 0.9, 95%CI = 0.6‐1.3, p linear trend = 0.44 in the highest exposure categories 2.75+ and 6.59+ μT years, respectively. Conclusion An increased risk in late stage (promotion/progression) of astrocytoma grade IV for occupational ELF‐EMF exposure was found.