Case-control study on occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and glioma

2017 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2299

Using an ELF-EMF job-exposure matrix, cumulative occupational exposure was associated with increased odds of astrocytoma grade IV in the 1–14 year time window (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4–2.6; p-trend <0.001) in the highest exposure category (2.75+ μT-years). In the 1…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017
Study typecase_control
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Case-control study on occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and glioma risk Carlberg M, Koppel T, Ahonen M, Hardell L. Case-control study on occupational exposure to extremely low- frequency electromagnetic fields and glioma risk. Am J Ind Med. 2017 Apr 10. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22707. Abstract BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: Life time occupations were assessed in case-control studies during 1997-2003 and 2007-2009. An ELF-EMF Job-Exposure Matrix was used for associating occupations with ELF exposure (μT). Cumulative exposure (μT-years), average exposure (μT), and maximum exposed job (μT) were calculated. RESULTS: Cumulative exposure gave for astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme) in the time window 1- 14 years odds ratio (OR) = 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4-2.6, p linear trend <0.001, and in the time window 15+ years OR = 0.9, 95%CI = 0.6-1.3, p linear trend = 0.44 in the highest exposure categories 2.75+ and 6.59+ μT years, respectively. CONCLUSION: An increased risk in late stage (promotion/progression) of astrocytoma grade IV for occupational ELF-EMF exposure was found. 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 directionmixed
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · Lifetime occupations assessed; exposure evaluated in time windows 1–14 years and 15+ years
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using an ELF-EMF job-exposure matrix, cumulative occupational exposure was associated with increased odds of astrocytoma grade IV in the 1–14 year time window (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4–2.6; p-trend <0.001) in the highest exposure category (2.75+ μT-years). In the 15+ year time window, the highest exposure category (6.59+ μT-years) showed OR 0.9 (95% CI 0.6–1.3; p-trend 0.44).

Outcomes measured

  • Glioma risk
  • Astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme) risk

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Population characteristics not described in abstract
  • Potential confounding and bias details not described in abstract
  • Exposure assessment based on a job-exposure matrix (individual-level measurement not described in abstract)
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Lifetime occupations assessed; exposure evaluated in time windows 1–14 years and 15+ years"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Glioma risk",
    "Astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme) risk"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using an ELF-EMF job-exposure matrix, cumulative occupational exposure was associated with increased odds of astrocytoma grade IV in the 1–14 year time window (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4–2.6; p-trend <0.001) in the highest exposure category (2.75+ μT-years). In the 15+ year time window, the highest exposure category (6.59+ μT-years) showed OR 0.9 (95% CI 0.6–1.3; p-trend 0.44).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Population characteristics not described in abstract",
    "Potential confounding and bias details not described in abstract",
    "Exposure assessment based on a job-exposure matrix (individual-level measurement not described in abstract)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "occupational exposure",
    "job-exposure matrix",
    "cumulative exposure",
    "μT-years",
    "glioma",
    "astrocytoma grade IV",
    "glioblastoma multiforme",
    "case-control"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Study evaluates occupational ELF-EMF exposure using a job-exposure matrix and glioma risk."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1002/ajim.22707
PubMed: Not supplied

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