Population-Based Case-Control Study of Occupational Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields and Breast Cancer

Van Wijngaarden, Edwin; Nylander-French, Leena A; Millikan, Robert C; Savitz, David A; Loomis, Dana

« Previous Next »Annals of Epidemiology
Volume 11, Issue 5 , Pages 297-303, July 2001

Population-Based Case-Control Study of Occupational Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields and Breast Cancer

Edwin Van Wijngaarden, MSc
- Departments of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
Leena A Nylander-French, PhD, CIH
- Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
- Address correspondences to: Leena A. Nylander-French, PhD, CIH, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, CB#7400, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400
Robert C Millikan, PhD
- Departments of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
David A Savitz, PhD
- Departments of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
Dana Loomis, PhD
- Departments of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA

Received 3 August 2000; received in revised form 20 November 2000; accepted 29 November 2000.

Abstract

PURPOSE: This population-based case-control study examined occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in relation to female breast cancer incidence among 843 breast cancer cases and 773 controls.

METHODS: Exposure was classified based on work in the two longest-held jobs, and indices of cumulative exposure to magnetic fields based on a measurement survey.

RESULTS: Female breast cancer was not associated with employment as an office or industrial worker. For the total study population, cumulative exposure over the entire career, and in the past 0–10 and 10–20 years generally showed odds ratios (ORs) close to the null. Moderately elevated risks were found for intermediate but not high levels of cumulative exposure accumulated 20 or more years ago (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1–2.0). Associations were stronger for premenopausal women (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1–2.7) in the past 10–20 years, and those with estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) breast tumors (OR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.1–4.0). No consistent dose-response patterns were observed.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings give little support to the hypothesis that electromagnetic fields cause cancer of the female breast.

Keywords: Electromagnetic Fields, Female Breast Cancer, Case-Control Studies, North Carolina