Occupational Exposure to Electric Shocks and Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and Motor Neurone Disease

American journal of epidemiology · 2020 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1921

Study snapshot

PublicationAmerican journal of epidemiology · 2020

Study typecase_control

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Occupational Exposure to Electric Shocks and Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and Motor Neurone Disease Grace X Chen, Andrea't Mannetje, Jeroen Douwes, Leonard H Berg, Neil Pearce, Hans Kromhout, Bill Glass, Naomi Brewer, Dave J McLean. Occupational Exposure to Electric Shocks and Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and Motor Neurone Disease. Am J Epidemiol. 2020 Oct 9;kwaa214. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwaa214. Abstract In a New Zealand population-based case-control study we assessed associations with occupational exposure to electric shocks, extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and motor neurone disease using job- exposure matrices to assess exposure. Participants were recruited between 2013 and 2016. Associations with ever/never, duration, and cumulative exposure were assessed using logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, sports, head or spine injury and solvents, and mutually adjusted for the other exposure. All analyses were repeated stratified by sex. An elevated risk was observed for having ever worked in a job with potential for electric shocks (odds ratio (OR)=1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98, 1.86), with the strongest association for the highest level of exposure (OR=2.01, 95%CI: 1.31, 3.09). Analysis by duration suggested a non-linear association: risk was increased for both short- duration (<3 years) (OR= 4.69, 95%CI: 2.25, 9.77) and long-duration in a job with high level of electric shock exposure (>24 years; OR=1.88; 95%CI: 1.05, 3.36), with less pronounced associations for intermediate durations. No association with ELF-MF was found. Our findings provide support for an association between occupational exposure to electric shocks and motor neurone disease but did not show associations with exposure to work- related ELF-MF. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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 directionmixed

PopulationNew Zealand population-based participants (recruited 2013–2016) in a case-control study of motor neurone disease

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · ever/never; duration and cumulative exposure (job-exposure matrices)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In this New Zealand population-based case-control study, elevated odds of motor neurone disease were observed for having ever worked in a job with potential for electric shocks (OR=1.35, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.86), with the strongest association at the highest exposure level (OR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.31, 3.09). Duration analyses suggested a non-linear pattern with increased risk for short duration (<3 years) high electric shock exposure (OR=4.69, 95% CI: 2.25, 9.77) and long duration (>24 years) high exposure (OR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.36). No association with occupational ELF magnetic fields was found.

Outcomes measured

Motor neurone disease

Limitations

Exposure assessed using job-exposure matrices (potential exposure misclassification).
Case-control design (susceptible to bias compared with prospective designs).
Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "ever/never; duration and cumulative exposure (job-exposure matrices)"
  },
  "population": "New Zealand population-based participants (recruited 2013–2016) in a case-control study of motor neurone disease",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Motor neurone disease"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In this New Zealand population-based case-control study, elevated odds of motor neurone disease were observed for having ever worked in a job with potential for electric shocks (OR=1.35, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.86), with the strongest association at the highest exposure level (OR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.31, 3.09). Duration analyses suggested a non-linear pattern with increased risk for short duration (<3 years) high electric shock exposure (OR=4.69, 95% CI: 2.25, 9.77) and long duration (>24 years) high exposure (OR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.36). No association with occupational ELF magnetic fields was found.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure assessed using job-exposure matrices (potential exposure misclassification).",
    "Case-control design (susceptible to bias compared with prospective designs).",
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "motor neurone disease",
    "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis",
    "occupational exposure",
    "electric shocks",
    "extremely low-frequency magnetic fields",
    "ELF-MF",
    "job-exposure matrix",
    "case-control",
    "New Zealand"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Study evaluates occupational exposure to electric shocks and ELF magnetic fields using job-exposure matrices."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1093/aje/kwaa214
PubMed: 33034341

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