Radio frequency radiation-related cancer: assessing causation in the occupational/military setting

Environ Res · 2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2164

Study snapshot

PublicationEnviron Res · 2018

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

RF radiation-related cancer: assessing causation in the occupational/military setting Peleg M, Nativ O, Richter ED. Radio frequency radiation-related cancer: assessing causation in the occupational/military setting. Environ Res. 2018 Feb 9;163:123-133. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.003. Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIM: We reexamine whether radio frequency radiation (RFR) in the occupational and military settings is a human carcinogen. METHODS: We extended an analysis of an already-reported case series of patients with cancer previously exposed to whole-body prolonged RFR, mainly from communication equipment and radar. We focused on hematolymphatic (HL) cancers. We used analysis by percentage frequency (PF) of a cancer type, which is the proportion of a specific cancer type relative to the total number of cancer cases. We also examined and analyzed the published data on three other cohort studies from similar military settings from different countries. RESULTS: The PF of HL cancers in the case series was very high, at 40% with only 23% expected for the series age and gender profile, confidence interval CI95%: 26-56%, p<0.01, 19 out of 47 patients had HL cancers. We also found high PF for multiple primaries. As for the three other cohort studies: In the Polish military sector, the PF of HL cancers was 36% in the exposed population as compared to 12% in the unexposed population, p<0.001. In a small group of employees exposed to RFR in Israeli defense industry, the PF of HL cancers was 60% versus 17% expected for the group age and gender profile, p<0.05. In Belgian radar battalions the HL PF was 8.3% versus 1.4% in the control battalions as shown in a causes of deaths study and HL cancer mortality rate ratio was 7.2 and statistically significant. Similar findings were reported on radio amateurs and Korean war technicians. Elevated risk ratios were previously reported in most of the above studies. CONCLUSIONS: The consistent association of RFR and highly elevated HL cancer risk in the four groups spread over three countries, operating different RFR equipment types and analyzed by different research protocols, suggests a cause-effect relationship between RFR and HL cancers in military/occupational settings. While complete measurements of RFR exposures were not available and rough exposure assessments from patients interviews and from partial exposure data were used instead, we have demonstrated increased HL cancers in occupational groups with relatively high RFR exposures. Our findings, combined with other studies, indicate that exposures incurred in the military settings evaluated here significantly increased the risk of HL cancers. Accordingly, the RFR military exposures in these occupations should be substantially reduced and further efforts should be undertaken to monitor and measure those exposures and to follow cohorts exposed to RFR for cancers and other health effects. Overall, the epidemiological studies on excess risk for HL and other cancers together with brain tumors in cellphone users and experimental studies on RFR and carcinogenicity make a coherent case for a cause-effect relationship and classifying RFR exposure as a human carcinogen (IARC group 1). 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 directionharm

PopulationOccupational/military groups and a case series of cancer patients previously exposed to RFR

Sample size47

ExposureRF · whole-body prolonged exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In an extended analysis of a previously reported case series (19/47), the percentage frequency of hematolymphatic cancers was 40% versus 23% expected (CI95%: 26–56%, p<0.01). The authors also report elevated HL cancer percentage frequencies and/or mortality comparisons in three other military/defense cohorts (Polish military sector, Israeli defense industry employees, Belgian radar battalions), and interpret the consistency across groups as suggesting a cause-effect relationship between occupational/military RFR exposure and HL cancers.

Outcomes measured

hematolymphatic (HL) cancers
multiple primary cancers
cancer mortality (HL cancer mortality rate ratio in Belgian radar battalions)

Limitations

Complete measurements of RFR exposures were not available
Exposure assessment relied on patient interviews and partial exposure data (rough exposure assessment)
One component is an already-reported case series (non-randomized, descriptive design)
Some referenced cohorts described as small (e.g., Israeli defense industry group)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "occupational/military (communication equipment and radar)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "whole-body prolonged exposure"
  },
  "population": "Occupational/military groups and a case series of cancer patients previously exposed to RFR",
  "sample_size": 47,
  "outcomes": [
    "hematolymphatic (HL) cancers",
    "multiple primary cancers",
    "cancer mortality (HL cancer mortality rate ratio in Belgian radar battalions)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In an extended analysis of a previously reported case series (19/47), the percentage frequency of hematolymphatic cancers was 40% versus 23% expected (CI95%: 26–56%, p<0.01). The authors also report elevated HL cancer percentage frequencies and/or mortality comparisons in three other military/defense cohorts (Polish military sector, Israeli defense industry employees, Belgian radar battalions), and interpret the consistency across groups as suggesting a cause-effect relationship between occupational/military RFR exposure and HL cancers.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Complete measurements of RFR exposures were not available",
    "Exposure assessment relied on patient interviews and partial exposure data (rough exposure assessment)",
    "One component is an already-reported case series (non-randomized, descriptive design)",
    "Some referenced cohorts described as small (e.g., Israeli defense industry group)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "RFR",
    "occupational exposure",
    "military exposure",
    "radar",
    "communication equipment",
    "hematolymphatic cancers",
    "cancer",
    "case series",
    "cohort studies",
    "percentage frequency"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Focuses on occupational/military RFR exposure from radar/communications equipment and cancer outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.003
PubMed: Not supplied

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