Quantification of lifetime accumulated ELF-EMF exposure from household appliances in the context of a retrospective epidemiological case–control study

Abstract

In Europe household appliances are a major source of indoor 50 Hz magnetic field exposure. A number of epidemiological studies have reported associations between leukemia risk and personal use of household appliances. In the ''Norddeutsche Leuka¨mie und Lymphomstudie'' (NLL), which was conducted in Northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony) between 1997 and 2001, lifetime use of a preselected array of electric appliances (microwave ovens, hair-dryers, motorized electrical alarm clocks (i.e. that use a motor to move their hands or digits), electric blankets and pillows, heated waterbeds, computers with conventional screens, TVs, and electric sewing machines) was recorded in a standardized, personal, computerized interview. Exposure was assessed on three different levels of precision: ever use, cumulative appliance-years, and average time of daily use. Additional questions referred to exposure modifying factors, including distance from screen while watching TV, position of an alarm clock at the bed etc.). Exposure to ELF-EMF from household appliances was quantified as ever vs. never use, gross and net appliance-years of lifetime use and cumulative mT-hours. Flux densities were based on measurements of appliances from the published literature. These were used as weighting factors to account for the different device-specific contributions to overall ELF-EMF exposure. Resulting distributions (as quartiles) for exposure scores revealed systematic differences for different levels of precision. Our analysis indicates that valid assessment of ELF-EMF exposure from household appliances should be based on the highest possible degree of precision and hence provides a considerable challenge in analytic epidemiology.

Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and sex-differential risk of uveal melanoma

“…Other studies that we have conducted in the past demonstrated that exposure to certain domestic electrical appliances can cause EMF exposure that may well exceed the average exposure levels of workers in electrical trades 33. However, in the USA no strong correlation between occupational and residential exposure to EMF has been noted 25.…”

Association between Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields from High Voltage Transmission Lines and Neurobehavioral Function in Children

“…The results of questionnaires about children’s house appliances showed that TVs watching and the use of fixed-line telephone were statistically significant between school A and school B. But the EMF generated from TVs and fixed-line telephone was weak and mostly less than 0.1 µT [62].…”

A literature review: the cardiovascular effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

“…An interesting, albeit diYcult, factor to investigate in workplace epidemiological studies would be non-occupational household exposure to EMFs. Behrens et al (2004) looked at long term cumulative exposures to EMFs, and found that power-line workers would be exposed to 6,250 T h for 10 years of employment compared to 21,608 T h for 10 years of exposure from sleeping beside an electric clock (Behrens et al 2004). This type of household exposure should be taken into account in future population based studies.…”