RF Safe

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and some cancers of unknown etiology: An ecological study.

The Science of the total environment · 2017 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 4921

In an ecological analysis in Albacete (Spain), RF-EMF exposure measured across administrative regions showed little correlation with tumor incidence: gliomas (Spearman ρ=0.15), meningiomas (ρ=0.19), and lymphomas (ρ=-0.03). The cancer cases were reported to h…

Study snapshot

PublicationThe Science of the total environment · 2017
Study typeecological
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Simultaneously with the increase of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) in recent decades, there has been increasing concern about their potential relation with the etiology of several tumors. At this time, the techniques of spatial data analysis jointly with the study of the personal exposure to these fields offer a new approach to the problem. This paper presents the results of a preliminary epidemiological study, combining Epidemiology, Statistics and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), in which we analyzed the correlation between exposure to RF-EMF in the city of Albacete (166,000 inhabitants, southeast Spain) and the incidence of several cancers with unspecific causes (lymphomas, and brain tumors). We used statistical tools to analyze the spatial point patterns and aggregate data with the aim to study the spatial randomness and to determine the zones with the highest incidence from 95 tumors studied (65 lymphomas, 12 gliomas and 18 meningiomas). We also perform a correlation (Spearman) study between the personal exposure to RF-EMF in 14 frequency bands, recorded by an EME Spy 140 (Satimo) exposimeter in the city's administrative regions, and the incidence of the tumors registered from January 2012 to May 2015. The studied cancer cases have a random spatial distribution inside the city. On the other hand, and by means of an ecological study, we verified that the exposure to RF-EMF registered in the city of Albacete shows little correlation with the incidence of the studied tumors (gliomas (ρ=0.15), meningiomas (ρ=0.19) and lymphomas (ρ=-0.03)). The proposed methodology inaugurates an unexplored analysis path in this field.

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 typeecological
Effect directionno_effect
PopulationResidents/cancer cases in the city of Albacete, Spain (city population 166,000)
Sample size95
ExposureRF · Personal exposure measurements; cancer incidence January 2012 to May 2015
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In an ecological analysis in Albacete (Spain), RF-EMF exposure measured across administrative regions showed little correlation with tumor incidence: gliomas (Spearman ρ=0.15), meningiomas (ρ=0.19), and lymphomas (ρ=-0.03). The cancer cases were reported to have a random spatial distribution within the city.

Outcomes measured

  • Lymphomas incidence
  • Gliomas incidence
  • Meningiomas incidence
  • Spatial distribution/randomness of tumor cases

Limitations

  • Preliminary epidemiological study
  • Ecological design (correlations at administrative-region level)
  • Exposure assessed via personal exposimeter measurements aggregated by region; individual-level exposure for cases not described
  • Frequency bands measured (14) not specified in abstract
  • Small number of cases for some tumor types (e.g., 12 gliomas, 18 meningiomas)
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "ecological",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "environmental/personal exposure in city administrative regions (measured with exposimeter)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Personal exposure measurements; cancer incidence January 2012 to May 2015"
  },
  "population": "Residents/cancer cases in the city of Albacete, Spain (city population 166,000)",
  "sample_size": 95,
  "outcomes": [
    "Lymphomas incidence",
    "Gliomas incidence",
    "Meningiomas incidence",
    "Spatial distribution/randomness of tumor cases"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In an ecological analysis in Albacete (Spain), RF-EMF exposure measured across administrative regions showed little correlation with tumor incidence: gliomas (Spearman ρ=0.15), meningiomas (ρ=0.19), and lymphomas (ρ=-0.03). The cancer cases were reported to have a random spatial distribution within the city.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Preliminary epidemiological study",
    "Ecological design (correlations at administrative-region level)",
    "Exposure assessed via personal exposimeter measurements aggregated by region; individual-level exposure for cases not described",
    "Frequency bands measured (14) not specified in abstract",
    "Small number of cases for some tumor types (e.g., 12 gliomas, 18 meningiomas)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "ecological study",
    "GIS",
    "spatial analysis",
    "exposimeter",
    "EME Spy 140",
    "Spearman correlation",
    "lymphoma",
    "glioma",
    "meningioma",
    "brain tumors",
    "Spain",
    "Albacete"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Addresses RF-EMF and cancer risk, a topic relevant to major health guideline discussions."
    }
  ]
}
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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.scitotenv.2017.05.018
PubMed: 28499231

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