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

• 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
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being; name=SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being; Iceland
• Online Access: https://pure.eur.nl/en/publications/c7527c64-8d56-46e3-b6ef-c999feeedb48; https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2021-108120; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132398523&partnerID=8YFLogxK

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.