Mortality in workers exposed to electromagnetic fields

Environ Health Perspect · 1985 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6678

Study snapshot

PublicationEnviron Health Perspect · 1985

Study typeecological

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

In an occupational mortality analysis of 486,000 adult male death records filed in Washington State in the years 1950-1982, leukemia and the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas show increased proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) in workers employed in occupations with intuitive exposures to electromagnetic fields. Nine occupations of 219 were considered to have electric or magnetic field exposures. These were: electrical and electronic technicians, radio and telegraph operators, radio and television repairmen, telephone and power linemen, power station operators, welders, aluminum reduction workers, motion picture projectionists and electricians. There were 12,714 total deaths in these occupations. Eight of the nine occupations had PMR increases for leukemia [International Classification of Diseases (ICD), seventh revision 204] and seven of the nine occupations had PMR increases for the other lymphoma category (7th ICD 200.2, 202). The highest PMRs were seen for acute leukemia: (67 deaths observed, 41 deaths expected; PMR 162), and in the other lymphomas (51 deaths observed, 31 deaths expected; PMR 164). No increase in mortality was seen for Hodgkin's disease or multiple myeloma. These findings offer some support for the hypothesis that electric and magnetic fields may be carcinogenic.

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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 typeecological

Effect directionmixed

PopulationAdult male death records filed in Washington State (USA)

Sample size486000

Exposure1950-1982 (death records years)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In an occupational mortality analysis of 486,000 adult male death records (Washington State, 1950–1982), leukemia and non-Hodgkin's/other lymphomas showed increased PMRs in nine occupations considered to have electric or magnetic field exposures (12,714 total deaths in these occupations). Eight of nine occupations had increased PMRs for leukemia and seven of nine had increased PMRs for other lymphomas; the highest PMRs were for acute leukemia (67 observed vs 41 expected; PMR 162) and other lymphomas (51 observed vs 31 expected; PMR 164). No increase in mortality was reported for Hodgkin's disease or multiple myeloma.

Outcomes measured

Leukemia (ICD-7 204)
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas / other lymphoma category (ICD-7 200.2, 202)
Acute leukemia
Hodgkin's disease
Multiple myeloma
Mortality (proportionate mortality ratios, PMRs)

Limitations

Exposure classification based on occupations with 'intuitive' electric or magnetic field exposures; no quantitative exposure measurements reported.
Proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) design using death records; may be subject to confounding and does not provide incidence or risk estimates.
Population restricted to adult male death records in Washington State; generalizability may be limited.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "ecological",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1950-1982 (death records years)"
  },
  "population": "Adult male death records filed in Washington State (USA)",
  "sample_size": 486000,
  "outcomes": [
    "Leukemia (ICD-7 204)",
    "Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas / other lymphoma category (ICD-7 200.2, 202)",
    "Acute leukemia",
    "Hodgkin's disease",
    "Multiple myeloma",
    "Mortality (proportionate mortality ratios, PMRs)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In an occupational mortality analysis of 486,000 adult male death records (Washington State, 1950–1982), leukemia and non-Hodgkin's/other lymphomas showed increased PMRs in nine occupations considered to have electric or magnetic field exposures (12,714 total deaths in these occupations). Eight of nine occupations had increased PMRs for leukemia and seven of nine had increased PMRs for other lymphomas; the highest PMRs were for acute leukemia (67 observed vs 41 expected; PMR 162) and other lymphomas (51 observed vs 31 expected; PMR 164). No increase in mortality was reported for Hodgkin's disease or multiple myeloma.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure classification based on occupations with 'intuitive' electric or magnetic field exposures; no quantitative exposure measurements reported.",
    "Proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) design using death records; may be subject to confounding and does not provide incidence or risk estimates.",
    "Population restricted to adult male death records in Washington State; generalizability may be limited."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "occupational exposure",
    "electric fields",
    "magnetic fields",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "mortality",
    "proportionate mortality ratio",
    "leukemia",
    "non-Hodgkin lymphoma",
    "lymphoma",
    "Washington State"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Study evaluates mortality patterns in occupations presumed to have electric/magnetic field 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: 10.1289/ehp.8562297
PubMed: 4085433

Read the original paper →

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