Malignant lymphoma and occupational exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and electrical shocks: a nested case-control study in a cohort of four Nordic countries

Background Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) and electric shocks is a common occupational risk factor in many workplaces. Recent investigations have highlighted a possible association between such exposures and lymphoma risk. This study was carried out to further explore...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Main Authors: Jalilian, Hamed, Guxens, Mònica, Heikkinen, Sanna, Pukkala, Eero, Huss, Anke, Eshagh Hossaini, Seyed Kamal, Kjærheim, Kristina, Vermeulen, Roel
Other Authors: Qom University of Medical Sciences, ZonMw, Miguel Servet II, Spanish Institute of Health Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, State Research Agency, Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa, Generalitat de Catalunya, CERCA Program, Nordic Cancer Union
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMJ 2022
Subjects:
Norway
Iceland
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2021-108120
https://syndication.highwire.org/content/doi/10.1136/oemed-2021-108120
Description
Summary:Background Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) and electric shocks is a common occupational risk factor in many workplaces. Recent investigations have highlighted a possible association between such exposures and lymphoma risk. This study was carried out to further explore the association between occupational exposure to ELF-MFs and electric shocks and risk of lymphoma in a large Nordic census-based cohort. Methods We included cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL, n=68 978), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL, n=20 615) and multiple myeloma (MM, n=35 467) diagnosed between 1961 and 2005 in Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Cases were matched to five controls by year of birth, sex and country. Lifetime occupational ELF-MF and electric shock exposures were assigned to jobs reported in population censuses using job-exposure matrices. The risk of cancer was assessed based on cumulative exposure to ELF-MF and electric shocks. ORs with 95% CIs were estimated using logistic models adjusted for occupational co-exposures relevant to lymphomas. Results Less than 7% of the cases experienced high levels of ELF-MF. We observed no increased risks among workers exposed to high levels of ELF-MF for NHL (OR: 0.93; CI 0.90 to 0.97), CLL (OR: 0.98; CI 0.92 to 1.05) or MM (OR: 0.96; CI 0.90 to 1.01). Conclusion Our results do not provide support for an association between occupational exposure to ELF-MFs and electric shocks and lymphoma risk.

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