Maternal occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields before, during, and after pregnancy in relation to risks of childhood cancers: findings from the Oxford Survey of Childhood Cancers, 1953-1981 deaths.

American journal of industrial medicine · 1999 · No effect · Moderate evidence

← Research stream

No effectModerate evidencePaper 5373

Study snapshot

PublicationAmerican journal of industrial medicine · 1999

Study typecase_control

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The concern that maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) might be related to childhood cancer risks, particularly leukemia risks. METHODS: Maternal occupational data already collected as part of the Oxford Survey of Childhood Cancers have been reviewed. Information on occupations held before, during, and after the pregnancy was sought for 15,041 children dying of cancer in Great Britain in the period 1953-1981, and for an equal number of matched controls. Each period of working was classified under one of five headings: (1) sewing machinist; (2) textile industry workers (other than sewing machinists) with likely exposures to EMF; (3) other machinists and other jobs with likely "higher" EMF exposure; (4) other jobs with likely exposure to some EMF, and (5) jobs with little potential for EMF exposure. RESULTS: Relative to risks in the children of mothers who held occupations with little potential for EMF exposure during pregnancy (a category that included housewives), risks of all childhood cancers were close to unity both for the children of sewing machinists (22 case and 31 control mothers, RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.25) and for the children of other machinists with likely "higher" EMF exposures (44 case and 47 control mothers, RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.41). Corresponding risks for all childhood leukemias and for all childhood brain cancers were similarly unexceptional. Simultaneous adjustment for social class, maternal age at birth of child, and sibship position had little effect. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings did not indicate that maternal occupational exposure to EMF during pregnancy is a risk factor for childhood leukemias, childhood brain cancers, or the generality of all childhood cancers.

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 directionno_effect

PopulationChildren in Great Britain (cancer deaths 1953–1981) and matched controls; maternal occupations assessed

Sample size30082

Exposurebefore, during, and after pregnancy (occupations assessed for each period; main comparisons reported for during pregnancy)

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with mothers in occupations with little potential for EMF exposure during pregnancy, risks of all childhood cancers were close to unity for children of sewing machinists (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.42–1.25) and for children of other machinists/other jobs with likely higher EMF exposures (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.61–1.41). Risks for childhood leukemias and brain cancers were described as similarly unexceptional, and adjustment for social class, maternal age, and sibship position had little effect.

Outcomes measured

All childhood cancers
Childhood leukemias
Childhood brain cancers

Limitations

Exposure classification based on job titles/likely EMF exposure categories rather than direct measurements
Specific EMF characteristics (frequency, intensity) not reported in abstract
Outcome set includes only children dying of cancer (mortality-based case ascertainment)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "before, during, and after pregnancy (occupations assessed for each period; main comparisons reported for during pregnancy)"
  },
  "population": "Children in Great Britain (cancer deaths 1953–1981) and matched controls; maternal occupations assessed",
  "sample_size": 30082,
  "outcomes": [
    "All childhood cancers",
    "Childhood leukemias",
    "Childhood brain cancers"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with mothers in occupations with little potential for EMF exposure during pregnancy, risks of all childhood cancers were close to unity for children of sewing machinists (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.42–1.25) and for children of other machinists/other jobs with likely higher EMF exposures (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.61–1.41). Risks for childhood leukemias and brain cancers were described as similarly unexceptional, and adjustment for social class, maternal age, and sibship position had little effect.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure classification based on job titles/likely EMF exposure categories rather than direct measurements",
    "Specific EMF characteristics (frequency, intensity) not reported in abstract",
    "Outcome set includes only children dying of cancer (mortality-based case ascertainment)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "maternal exposure",
    "occupational exposure",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "pregnancy",
    "childhood cancer",
    "leukemia",
    "brain cancer",
    "Oxford Survey of Childhood Cancers",
    "Great Britain"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Assesses maternal occupational EMF exposure in relation to childhood cancer risk."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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/(sici)1097-0274(199904)35:4<348::aid-ajim5>3.0.co;2-x
PubMed: 10086211

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library