Skip to main content
NCBI home page
British Journal of Industrial Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Industrial Medicine
. 1993 Aug;50(8):758–764. doi: 10.1136/oem.50.8.758

Incidence of cancer in persons with occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in Denmark.

P Guénel 1, P Raskmark 1, J B Andersen 1, E Lynge 1
PMCID: PMC1012181  PMID: 8398864

Abstract

Several studies suggest that work in electrical occupations is associated with an increased risk of cancer, mainly leukaemia and brain tumours. These studies may, however, not be representative if there is a publication bias where mainly positive results are reported. To study an unselected population the incidence of cancer was followed up over a 17 year period (1970-87) in a cohort of 2.8 million Danes aged 20-64 years in 1970. Each person was classified by his or her industry and occupation in 1970. Before tabulation of the data on incidence of cancer, each industry-occupation group was coded for potential exposure to magnetic fields above the threshold 0.3 microT. Some 154,000 men were considered intermittently exposed and 18,000 continuously exposed. The numbers for women were 79,000 and 4000 respectively. Intermittent exposure was not associated with an increased risk of leukaemia, brain tumours, or melanoma. Men with continuous exposure, however, had an excess risk of leukaemia (observed (obs) 39, expected (exp) 23.80, obs/exp 1.64, 95% CI 1.20-2.24) with equal contributions from acute and other leukaemias. These men had no excess risk of brain tumours or melanoma. A risk for breast cancer was suggested in exposed men but not in women. The risk for leukaemia in continuously exposed men was mainly in electricians in installation works and iron foundry workers. Besides electromagnetic fields other exposures should be considered as possible aetiological agents.

Full text

PDF
758

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Adey W. R. Joint actions of environmental nonionizing electromagnetic fields and chemical pollution in cancer promotion. Environ Health Perspect. 1990 Jun;86:297–305. doi: 10.1289/ehp.9086297. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Clemmesen J. Statistical studies in the aetiology of malignant neoplasms. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand Suppl. 1974;Suppl 247:1–266. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Coleman M., Beral V. A review of epidemiological studies of the health effects of living near or working with electricity generation and transmission equipment. Int J Epidemiol. 1988 Mar;17(1):1–13. doi: 10.1093/ije/17.1.1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. De Guire L., Theriault G., Iturra H., Provencher S., Cyr D., Case B. W. Increased incidence of malignant melanoma of the skin in workers in a telecommunications industry. Br J Ind Med. 1988 Dec;45(12):824–828. doi: 10.1136/oem.45.12.824. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Deadman J. E., Camus M., Armstrong B. G., Héroux P., Cyr D., Plante M., Thériault G. Occupational and residential 60-Hz electromagnetic fields and high-frequency electric transients: exposure assessment using a new dosimeter. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1988 Aug;49(8):409–419. doi: 10.1080/15298668891379981. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Demers P. A., Thomas D. B., Rosenblatt K. A., Jimenez L. M., McTiernan A., Stalsberg H., Stemhagen A., Thompson W. D., Curnen M. G., Satariano W. Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and breast cancer in men. Am J Epidemiol. 1991 Aug 15;134(4):340–347. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116095. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Easterly C. E. Cancer link to magnetic field exposure: a hypothesis. Am J Epidemiol. 1981 Aug;114(2):169–174. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113179. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kaune W. T., Stevens R. G., Callahan N. J., Severson R. K., Thomas D. B. Residential magnetic and electric fields. Bioelectromagnetics. 1987;8(4):315–335. doi: 10.1002/bem.2250080402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lin R. S., Dischinger P. C., Conde J., Farrell K. P. Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and the occurrence of brain tumors. An analysis of possible associations. J Occup Med. 1985 Jun;27(6):413–419. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. London S. J., Thomas D. C., Bowman J. D., Sobel E., Cheng T. C., Peters J. M. Exposure to residential electric and magnetic fields and risk of childhood leukemia. Am J Epidemiol. 1991 Nov 1;134(9):923–937. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116176. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Lynge E., Thygesen L. Occupational cancer in Denmark. Cancer incidence in the 1970 census population. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1990;16 (Suppl 2):3–35. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Matanoski G. M., Breysse P. N., Elliott E. A. Electromagnetic field exposure and male breast cancer. Lancet. 1991 Mar 23;337(8743):737–737. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(91)90325-j. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Milham S., Jr Mortality from leukemia in workers exposed to electrical and magnetic fields. N Engl J Med. 1982 Jul 22;307(4):249–249. doi: 10.1056/nejm198207223070412. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Olin R., Vågerö D., Ahlbom A. Mortality experience of electrical engineers. Br J Ind Med. 1985 Mar;42(3):211–212. doi: 10.1136/oem.42.3.211. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Poole C., Trichopoulos D. Extremely low-frequency electric and magnetic fields and cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 1991 Jul;2(4):267–276. doi: 10.1007/BF00052144. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Savitz D. A., Calle E. E. Leukemia and occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields: review of epidemiologic surveys. J Occup Med. 1987 Jan;29(1):47–51. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Savitz D. A., Wachtel H., Barnes F. A., John E. M., Tvrdik J. G. Case-control study of childhood cancer and exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields. Am J Epidemiol. 1988 Jul;128(1):21–38. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114943. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Stevens R. G., Davis S., Thomas D. B., Anderson L. E., Wilson B. W. Electric power, pineal function, and the risk of breast cancer. FASEB J. 1992 Feb 1;6(3):853–860. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.6.3.1740235. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Stevens R. G. Electric power use and breast cancer: a hypothesis. Am J Epidemiol. 1987 Apr;125(4):556–561. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114569. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Stuchly M. A. Human exposure to static and time-varying magnetic fields. Health Phys. 1986 Aug;51(2):215–225. doi: 10.1097/00004032-198608000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Stuchly M. A., Lecuyer D. W. Exposure to electromagnetic fields in arc welding. Health Phys. 1989 Mar;56(3):297–302. doi: 10.1097/00004032-198903000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Swerdlow A. J. Epidemiology of eye cancer in adults in England and Wales, 1962-1977. Am J Epidemiol. 1983 Aug;118(2):294–300. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113636. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Thomas T. L., Stolley P. D., Stemhagen A., Fontham E. T., Bleecker M. L., Stewart P. A., Hoover R. N. Brain tumor mortality risk among men with electrical and electronics jobs: a case-control study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1987 Aug;79(2):233–238. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Thériault G. Electromagnetic fields and cancer risks. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 1992;40 (Suppl 1):S55–S62. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Tomenius L. 50-Hz electromagnetic environment and the incidence of childhood tumors in Stockholm County. Bioelectromagnetics. 1986;7(2):191–207. doi: 10.1002/bem.2250070209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Tynes T., Andersen A. Electromagnetic fields and male breast cancer. Lancet. 1990 Dec 22;336(8730):1596–1596. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)93387-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Tynes T., Andersen A., Langmark F. Incidence of cancer in Norwegian workers potentially exposed to electromagnetic fields. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Jul 1;136(1):81–88. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116423. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Vena J. E., Graham S., Hellmann R., Swanson M., Brasure J. Use of electric blankets and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 1991 Jul 15;134(2):180–185. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116070. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Vågerö D., Ahlbom A., Olin R., Sahlsten S. Cancer morbidity among workers in the telecommunications industry. Br J Ind Med. 1985 Mar;42(3):191–195. doi: 10.1136/oem.42.3.191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Wertheimer N., Leeper E. Electrical wiring configurations and childhood cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 1979 Mar;109(3):273–284. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112681. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Industrial Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES