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Scoping Review of the Potential Health Effects of Exposure to Extremely Low-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields

2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1646

This scoping review of epidemiologic studies published 2007–2017 found inconsistent results overall. It suggests ELF EMF exposure may be associated with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's disease, while evidence was limited for associations …

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019
Study typereview
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Scoping Review of the Potential Health Effects of Exposure to Extremely Low-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields Habash M, Gogna P, Krewski D, Habash RWY. Scoping Review of the Potential Health Effects of Exposure to Extremely Low-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2019;47(4):323-347. doi: 10.1615/CritRevBiomedEng.2019030211. Abstract Previous studies suggest that extremely low-frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) may impact human health. However, epidemiologic studies have provided inconsistent results on the association between exposure to ELF EMFs and various health outcomes. This scoping review reports on primary investigations that were published during the ten-year period of 2007-2017 on the association between ELF EMFs and cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), reproductive health effects, and neurodegenerative diseases. We identified a total of 361 articles from two bibliographic databases (PubMed and EMBASE). Of these, 39 articles (19 cancer studies, two CVD studies, nine reproductive health studies, and ten neurodegenerative disease studies [with one repeated for two outcomes]) met inclusion criteria. Articles identified in this study focus on three different types of exposure: occupational (22 studies), residential (15 studies), and electric blanket (two studies). This review suggests that ELF EMFs may be associated with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's disease; however, limited evidence was found to suggest that ELF EMFs are associated with several types of cancer, CVD, and reproductive outcomes. Additional epidemiological studies in large study populations with improved exposure assessments are needed to clarify current inconclusive relationships. 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 typereview
Effect directionmixed
PopulationNot supplied
Sample size39
ExposureELF · 2007-2017 (publication window of included studies)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This scoping review of epidemiologic studies published 2007–2017 found inconsistent results overall. It suggests ELF EMF exposure may be associated with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's disease, while evidence was limited for associations with several types of cancer, CVD, and reproductive outcomes.

Outcomes measured

  • cancer
  • cardiovascular disease (CVD)
  • reproductive health effects
  • neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease)

Limitations

  • Epidemiologic evidence described as inconsistent/inconclusive across outcomes
  • Limited evidence for several outcomes (cancer, CVD, reproductive)
  • Authors call for larger study populations and improved exposure assessment
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational, residential, electric blanket",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2007-2017 (publication window of included studies)"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 39,
  "outcomes": [
    "cancer",
    "cardiovascular disease (CVD)",
    "reproductive health effects",
    "neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This scoping review of epidemiologic studies published 2007–2017 found inconsistent results overall. It suggests ELF EMF exposure may be associated with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's disease, while evidence was limited for associations with several types of cancer, CVD, and reproductive outcomes.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Epidemiologic evidence described as inconsistent/inconclusive across outcomes",
    "Limited evidence for several outcomes (cancer, CVD, reproductive)",
    "Authors call for larger study populations and improved exposure assessment"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "ELF",
    "electric fields",
    "magnetic fields",
    "EMF",
    "occupational exposure",
    "residential exposure",
    "electric blanket",
    "cancer",
    "cardiovascular disease",
    "reproductive health",
    "neurodegenerative disease",
    "Alzheimer's disease",
    "scoping review"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Review includes occupational ELF EMF exposure studies (22 of 39)."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1615/critrevbiomedeng.2019030211
PubMed: Not supplied

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