RF Safe

Case-control study on occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and the association with acoustic neuroma

Environmental research · 2020 · No effect · Low evidence

← Research stream
No effectLow evidencePaper 1529

Using the INTEROCC ELF-EMF job-exposure matrix, no increased risk for acoustic neuroma was found in any exposure category. In the highest cumulative exposure category (8.52+ µT-years), OR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.8–2.0) with no significant linear trend (p=0.37), and…

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental research · 2020
Study typecase_control
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Case-control study on occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and the association with acoustic neuroma Carlberg M, Koppel T, Ahonen M, Hardell L. Case-control study on occupational exposure to extremely low- frequency electromagnetic fields and the association with acoustic neuroma. Environmental Research. Available online 7 May 2020, 109621 Highlights • Exposure to ELF-EMF has been classified as a possible human carcinogen by IARC. • Risk for acoustic neuroma was investigated for occupations with ELF-EMF exposure. • No increased risk for acoustic neuroma was found in any exposure category. Abstract 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 based on an increased risk for childhood leukemia. In case-control studies on brain and head tumours during 1997-2003 and 2007-2009 we assessed life-time occupations in addition to exposure to different agents. The INTEROCC ELF- EMF Job-Exposure Matrix was used for associating occupations with ELF-EMF exposure (μT) with acoustic neuroma. Cumulative exposure (μT-years), average exposure (μT) and maximum exposed job (μT) were calculated. No increased risk for acoustic neuroma was found in any category. For cumulative exposure in the highest exposure category 8.52+ μT years odds ratio (OR) = 1.2, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.8-2.0, p linear trend = 0.37 was calculated. No statistically significant risks were found in the time windows 1-14 years, and 15+ years, respectively. In conclusion occupational ELF-EMF was not associated with an increased risk for acoustic neuroma. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecase_control
Effect directionno_effect
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · lifetime occupations; time windows 1–14 years and 15+ years
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using the INTEROCC ELF-EMF job-exposure matrix, no increased risk for acoustic neuroma was found in any exposure category. In the highest cumulative exposure category (8.52+ µT-years), OR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.8–2.0) with no significant linear trend (p=0.37), and no statistically significant risks were found in time windows 1–14 years and 15+ years.

Outcomes measured

  • acoustic neuroma

Limitations

  • Population characteristics and sample size not reported in the abstract.
  • Exposure assessment based on a job-exposure matrix (INTEROCC) rather than individual measurements.
  • Specific occupational categories and potential confounder adjustments not described in the abstract.
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "lifetime occupations; time windows 1–14 years and 15+ years"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "acoustic neuroma"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using the INTEROCC ELF-EMF job-exposure matrix, no increased risk for acoustic neuroma was found in any exposure category. In the highest cumulative exposure category (8.52+ µT-years), OR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.8–2.0) with no significant linear trend (p=0.37), and no statistically significant risks were found in time windows 1–14 years and 15+ years.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Population characteristics and sample size not reported in the abstract.",
    "Exposure assessment based on a job-exposure matrix (INTEROCC) rather than individual measurements.",
    "Specific occupational categories and potential confounder adjustments not described in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "occupational exposure",
    "job-exposure matrix",
    "INTEROCC",
    "acoustic neuroma",
    "case-control",
    "odds ratio"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study evaluates occupational ELF-EMF exposure and acoustic neuroma risk using a job-exposure matrix."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Abstract references IARC/WHO carcinogen classification context for ELF-EMF."
    }
  ]
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109621
PubMed: 32422481

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library