[Remote effects of occupational and non-occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields of power-line frequency. Epidemiological studies].

Radiatsionnaia biologiia, radioecologiia · 2003 · Unclear · Very low evidence

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UnclearVery low evidencePaper 5250

Study snapshot

PublicationRadiatsionnaia biologiia, radioecologiia · 2003

Study typeother

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

A retrospective cohort study of mortality in the personnel of power-supply plants in the European regions of Russia was carried out. The exposure of the personnel to electromagnetic fields of power-line frequency (PF) was taken into account. Statistically non-significant raise of mortality from leukemia was found, compared to low mortality rates due to all other causes including cancer of any type. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was equal to 2.03 (95% CI = 0.23-7.31). In the retrospective case-control study the haemoblastosis development risk under occupational PF EMF exposure was evaluated. The data of 571 "cases" and 1208 "controls" interview showed that odd ratio (OR) was 1.64 (95% CI = 0.8-3.1). In another retrospective case-control study the risk of the haemoblastosis development in children due to parents PF EMF occupational exposure was evaluated. The data of 208 "cases" and 319 "controls" interview showed that the odd ratio (OR) was 1.69 (95% CI = 0.7-3.3). A retrospective cohort study of mortality in a settlement situated near a high-voltage (500 kV) substation, which took into account PF EMF levels in residential areas, revealed low mortality rates, except leukemia mortality (SMR 1.3; 95% CI = 0.2-7.0). The obtained data do not allow excluding a possibility of PF EMF leukogenic effect.

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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 typeother

Effect directionunclear

PopulationPersonnel of power-supply plants in European regions of Russia; residents of a settlement near a 500 kV substation; children with parental occupational exposure

Sample size2306

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across several retrospective studies, leukemia/haemoblastosis outcomes showed elevated but statistically non-significant associations with power-frequency EMF exposure: personnel leukemia mortality SMR 2.03 (95% CI 0.23–7.31); occupational case-control OR 1.64 (95% CI 0.8–3.1); children with parental occupational exposure OR 1.69 (95% CI 0.7–3.3); residents near a 500 kV substation leukemia mortality SMR 1.3 (95% CI 0.2–7.0). Other mortality rates were reported as low.

Outcomes measured

Mortality from leukemia
All-cause mortality
Cancer mortality (any type)
Haemoblastosis development risk (occupational exposure)
Haemoblastosis development risk in children (parental occupational exposure)

Limitations

Associations reported as statistically non-significant with wide confidence intervals
Retrospective design(s) (cohort and case-control)
Exposure described generally as power-frequency EMF; limited quantitative exposure detail in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational; residential near high-voltage substation",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Personnel of power-supply plants in European regions of Russia; residents of a settlement near a 500 kV substation; children with parental occupational exposure",
  "sample_size": 2306,
  "outcomes": [
    "Mortality from leukemia",
    "All-cause mortality",
    "Cancer mortality (any type)",
    "Haemoblastosis development risk (occupational exposure)",
    "Haemoblastosis development risk in children (parental occupational exposure)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across several retrospective studies, leukemia/haemoblastosis outcomes showed elevated but statistically non-significant associations with power-frequency EMF exposure: personnel leukemia mortality SMR 2.03 (95% CI 0.23–7.31); occupational case-control OR 1.64 (95% CI 0.8–3.1); children with parental occupational exposure OR 1.69 (95% CI 0.7–3.3); residents near a 500 kV substation leukemia mortality SMR 1.3 (95% CI 0.2–7.0). Other mortality rates were reported as low.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Associations reported as statistically non-significant with wide confidence intervals",
    "Retrospective design(s) (cohort and case-control)",
    "Exposure described generally as power-frequency EMF; limited quantitative exposure detail in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "power-frequency",
    "ELF EMF",
    "occupational exposure",
    "residential exposure",
    "substation",
    "leukemia",
    "haemoblastosis",
    "mortality",
    "retrospective cohort",
    "case-control",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Multiple analyses evaluate occupational power-frequency EMF exposure in power-supply plant personnel and parental occupational exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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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: Not supplied
PubMed: 14658290

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