Childhood Leukemia in Relation to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in the Vicinity of TV and Radio Broadcast Transmitters

Merzenich, Hiltrud; Schmiedel, Sven; Bennack, Sabrina; Brüggemeyer, H.; Philipp, J.; Blettner, Maria; Schüz, Joachim

doi:10.1093/aje/kwn230

Cited by 38 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Less attention has been paid to the possible relation between RF‐EMF and CL. Only three case–control studies could be identified 39–41. In addition, we found four studies with an ecological design 42–45.…”

Section: Epidemiological Evidence For An Increased Risk Of CL By Expomentioning

confidence: 98%

Impact of high electromagnetic field levels on childhood leukemia incidence

Teepen

Dijck

2012

Intl Journal of Cancer

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The increasing exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has raised concern, as increased exposure may result in an increased risk of childhood leukemia (CL). Besides a short introduction of CL and EMF, our article gives an evaluation of the evidence of a causal relation between EMF and CL by critically appraising the epidemiological and biological evidence. The potential impact is also estimated by the population attributable risk. The etiology of CL is largely unknown, but is probably multifactorial. EMF may be one of the environmental exposures involved. Three pooled analyses of case–control studies showed a 1.4‐ to 1.7‐fold increased CL risk for extremely low‐frequency EMF (ELF‐EMF) exposure levels above 0.3 μT. Several biases may have played a role in these studies, but are unlikely to fully explain the increased risk. For effects of radiofrequency ELF evidence is lacking. None of the proposed biological mechanisms by which ELF‐EMF might cause CL have been confirmed. The estimated overall population attributable risk was 1.9%, with the highest estimates in Northern America and Brazil (4.2% and 4.1%, respectively). The potential impact of EMF exposure on public health is probably limited, although in some countries exposure might be relatively high and thus might have a more substantial impact. We recommend nationwide surveys to gain more insight into the contemporary exposure levels among children. Reducing exposure from power lines near densely populated areas and schools is advised. Future epidemiological studies should focus on limiting bias.

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Section: Epidemiological Evidence For An Increased Risk Of CL By Expomentioning

confidence: 98%

Impact of high electromagnetic field levels on childhood leukemia incidence

Teepen

Dijck

2012

Intl Journal of Cancer

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“…This contrast may explain some variability in the measurements, since the emissions strongly depend on the spatial orientation of the windows 26. Moreover, objects in the light of sight such as buildings and vegetation, as well as walls in indoor areas have an attenuation effect by orders of magnitude 11 27…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An alternative approach, although limited to outdoor conditions, is theoretical prediction. Ha et al and Merzenich et al have developed field strength prediction programmes for assessment of individual exposure from AM radio or TV transmitters 10 11. Regarding mobile base stations, much more complex models have been developed to predict field strength at a given location on the basis of the position of the base station, the maximum power load, antenna characteristics, topography, shielding effects of house walls, etc.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Residential exposure to radiofrequency fields from mobile phone base stations, and broadcast transmitters: a population-based survey with personal meter

et al. 2009

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Objectives: Both the public perceptions, and most published epidemiologic studies, rely on the assumption that the distance of a particular residence from a base station or a broadcast transmitter is an appropriate surrogate for exposure to radiofrequency fields, although complex propagation characteristics affect the beams from antennas. The main goal of this study was to characterise the distribution of residential exposure from antennas using personal exposure meters. Methods: A total of 200 randomly selected people were enrolled. Each participant was supplied with a personal exposure meter for 24 h measurements, and kept a timelocation-activity diary. Two exposure metrics for each radiofrequency were then calculated: the proportion of measurements above the detection limit (0.05 V/m), and the maximum electric field strength. Residential address was geocoded, and distance from each antenna was calculated. Results: Much of the time, the recorded field strength was below the detection level (0.05 V/m), the FM band standing apart with a proportion above the detection threshold of 12.3%. The maximum electric field strength was always lower than 1.5 V/m. Exposure to GSM and DCS waves peaked around 280 m and 1000 m from the antennas. A downward trend was found within a 10 km range for FM. Conversely, UMTS, TV 3, and TV 4&5 signals did not vary with distance. Conclusions: Despite numerous limiting factors entailing a high variability in radiofrequency exposure assessment, but owing to a sound statistical technique, we found that exposures from GSM and DCS base stations increase with distance in the near source zone, to a maximum where the main beam intersects the ground. We believe these results will contribute to the ongoing public debate over the location of base stations and their associated emissions.People are exposed to many sources of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields including radio and TV transmitters, telecommunications links and satellite communication as well as mobile phones and their supporting transmitters. TV transmitters operate at relatively high power levels up to about 1 MW (to cover as much area as possible), but are not located in heavily populated areas. Cellular wireless technology relies on an extensive network of low-power transmitters (or base stations) that communicate with users' handsets. Base stations are ubiquitous in populated areas to maintain quality and avoid congestion increases, but they are less numerous in lowerdemand areas.

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“…There is (until September 2010) only one study available for mobile phone use: Elliott et al [16] found no association between risk of early childhood cancers (leukaemia and nonHodgkins lymphoma, cancer of brain and central nervous system) and estimates of the mothers exposure to mobile phone base stations during pregnancy. Furthermore, there are 10 studies investigating brain cancer or leukaemia with respect to EMF emitted from TV or radio transmitters [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Only 8 of these transmitter studies, however, present original data.…”

Section: Brain Cancer and Leukaemia: Pro-and Con-argumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Children's health and RF EMF exposure. Views from a risk assessment and risk communication perspective

Wiedemann

Schütz

2011

Wien Med Wochenschr

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A review of the scientific literature published until August 2010, covering epidemiological studies on the effects of RF EMF exposure on the incidence of brain tumours and leukaemia in children as well as experimental studies on RF EMF effects on cognition and CNS in children, reveals no or only scant evidence for the assumption that RF EMF exposure poses a hazard to children. This result is at odds with public risk perceptions, i.e. prevailing concerns of (at least part of) the public about adverse health effect of RF EMF. Consequences for risk communication are discussed. A scientifically sound and easy-to-understand risk communication is especially exacerbated by the fact that current risk assessments cannot exclude that RF EMF might have adverse health effects due remaining knowledge gaps, but especially due to the impossibility to prove a non-effect.

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Childhood Leukemia in Relation to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in the Vicinity of TV and Radio Broadcast Transmitters

Cited by 38 publications

References 21 publications

Impact of high electromagnetic field levels on childhood leukemia incidence

Impact of high electromagnetic field levels on childhood leukemia incidence

Residential exposure to radiofrequency fields from mobile phone base stations, and broadcast transmitters: a population-based survey with personal meter

Children's health and RF EMF exposure. Views from a risk assessment and risk communication perspective

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