Occupational extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure and selected cancer outcomes in a prospective Dutch cohort

Cancer Causes Control · 2014 · Mixed · Moderate evidence

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MixedModerate evidencePaper 2748

Study snapshot

PublicationCancer Causes Control · 2014

Study typecohort

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the association between exposure to occupational extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and the risk of a priori selected cancer outcomes within the prospective Netherlands Cohort Study. Methods: 120,852 men and women aged 55-69 years at time of enrollment in 1986 were followed up (17.3 years) for incident lung, breast and brain cancer, and hemato-lymphoproliferative malignancies. Information on occupational history and potential confounders such as sex, age, smoking, alcohol use, and attained educational level were collected at baseline through a self-administered questionnaire. Occupational ELF-MF exposure was assigned with a job-exposure matrix. Using a case-cohort approach, associations with cancer incidence were analyzed with Cox regression stratified by sex, using three exposure metrics: (1) ever had a job with low or high exposure to ELF-MF versus background, (2) duration of exposure, and (3) cumulative exposure. Results: None of the exposure metrics showed an effect on incidence for lung, breast, and brain cancer, nor any of the assessed subtypes in men and women. Of the hemato-lymphoproliferative malignancies in men, ever high exposed to ELF-MF showed a significant association with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) [hazard ratio (HR) 2.15; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.06-4.35] and follicular lymphoma (FL) (HR 2.78; 95 % CI 1.00-5.77). Cumulative exposure to ELF-MF showed a significant, positive association with FL but not AML among men. Conclusions: In this large prospective cohort study, we found some indications of an increased risk of AML and FL among men with occupational ELF-MF exposure. These findings warrant further investigation.

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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 typecohort

Effect directionmixed

PopulationMen and women aged 55–69 years at enrollment (1986) in the Netherlands Cohort Study

Sample size120852

ExposureELF · Follow-up 17.3 years; exposure metrics included ever exposed (low/high vs background), duration of exposure, and cumulative exposure

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across three exposure metrics, no associations were observed for lung, breast, or brain cancer incidence, nor assessed subtypes, in men and women. Among men, ever having a highly ELF-MF-exposed job was significantly associated with acute myeloid leukemia (HR 2.15; 95% CI 1.06–4.35) and follicular lymphoma (HR 2.78; 95% CI 1.00–5.77). Cumulative ELF-MF exposure was significantly positively associated with follicular lymphoma but not acute myeloid leukemia among men.

Outcomes measured

Incident lung cancer
Incident breast cancer
Incident brain cancer
Hemato-lymphoproliferative malignancies (including acute myeloid leukemia and follicular lymphoma)

Limitations

Occupational ELF-MF exposure assigned using a job-exposure matrix (potential exposure misclassification)
Exposure and confounders collected at baseline via self-administered questionnaire
Significant associations reported only for specific hematologic subtypes among men; other outcomes null

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Follow-up 17.3 years; exposure metrics included ever exposed (low/high vs background), duration of exposure, and cumulative exposure"
  },
  "population": "Men and women aged 55–69 years at enrollment (1986) in the Netherlands Cohort Study",
  "sample_size": 120852,
  "outcomes": [
    "Incident lung cancer",
    "Incident breast cancer",
    "Incident brain cancer",
    "Hemato-lymphoproliferative malignancies (including acute myeloid leukemia and follicular lymphoma)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across three exposure metrics, no associations were observed for lung, breast, or brain cancer incidence, nor assessed subtypes, in men and women. Among men, ever having a highly ELF-MF-exposed job was significantly associated with acute myeloid leukemia (HR 2.15; 95% CI 1.06–4.35) and follicular lymphoma (HR 2.78; 95% CI 1.00–5.77). Cumulative ELF-MF exposure was significantly positively associated with follicular lymphoma but not acute myeloid leukemia among men.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Occupational ELF-MF exposure assigned using a job-exposure matrix (potential exposure misclassification)",
    "Exposure and confounders collected at baseline via self-administered questionnaire",
    "Significant associations reported only for specific hematologic subtypes among men; other outcomes null"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency magnetic fields",
    "ELF-MF",
    "occupational exposure",
    "job-exposure matrix",
    "prospective cohort",
    "Netherlands Cohort Study",
    "lung cancer",
    "breast cancer",
    "brain cancer",
    "acute myeloid leukemia",
    "follicular lymphoma",
    "hemato-lymphoproliferative malignancies"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Study evaluates occupational ELF magnetic field exposure and cancer incidence in a prospective cohort."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1007/s10552-013-0322-x
PubMed: 24241907

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