Epidemiological study (observational study)

Occupational exposure to radio frequency/microwave radiation and the risk of brain tumors: Interphone Study Group, Germany epidem.

By: Berg G, Spallek J, Schüz J, Schlehofer B, Bohler E, Schlaefer K, Hettinger I, Kunna-Grass K, Wahrendorf J, Blettner M

Published in: Am J Epidemiol 2006; 164 (6): 538-548

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The association between occupational exposure to radio frequency/microwave radiation and the risk of brain tumors was investigated in the German part of the Interphone Study.

Further details

Exposure to radio frequency/microwave radiation was assessed by a job exposure matrix. For each subject the probable exposure was calculated by using information about the activities and duration of exposure. High exposure was defined as an occupational exposure that may exceed the radio frequency/microwave exposure limits for the general public recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, ICNIRP (publication 3602). .

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: meningioma and glioma

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- RF
- microwaves
- also other exposures without EMF
- therapeutic/medical device
- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- mobile phone base station
- wireless transmitter/antenna
- occupational

Assessment

questionnaire: use of cellular phones, transmitters, and ham radio; occupational activities related to EMF and ionizing radiation
job exposure matrix

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	total exposure: no/not probable exposure
Group 2	total exposure: probable/high exposure
Reference group 3	probable exposure: no exposure
Group 4	probable exposure: not probable
Group 5	probable exposure: probable
Group 6	probable exposure: high
Reference group 7	duration of high exposure: not highly exposed
Group 8	duration of high exposure: highly exposed for < 10 years
Group 9	duration of high exposure: highly exposed for ≥ 10 years

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 30–69 years
Observation period: October 2000 - October 2003
Study location: Germany (3 study regions)

Case group

Characteristics: meningioma and glioma, histologically confirmed
Data source: neurosurgical clinics in Bielefeld, Heidelberg, Mainz and Mannheim, Germany

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- area
- case:control = 1:2

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	891	2,449
Participants	747	1,535
Participation rate	84 %	63 %

Other:

366 glioma cases and 381 meningioma cases

Statistical analysis method:

conditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
socioeconomic status
study center, living in urban versus rural area, ionizing radiation exposure, smoking history

)

Results (acc. to author)

104 persons were considered probably exposed to radio frequency/microwave radiation and 87 as highly exposed. No significant association between occupational exposure to radio frequency/microwave radiation and the risk of glioma or menigioma in the total study population was observed. A slight increase in risk was found with increasing duration and high exposure, but these results were based on low numbers.

Study funded by

Deutsches Mobilfunk Forschungsprogramm (DMF; German Mobile Phone Research Programme) at Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)
GSM Association, UK/Ireland
International Union against Cancer (UICC; Union Internationale Contre le Cancer), Switzerland
MAIFOR Program (Mainzer Forschungsförderungsprogramm) of the University of Mainz, Germany
Ministerium für Umwelt und Naturschutz, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, Nordrhein-Westfalen (Ministry for the Environment of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia), Germany
Ministerium für Umwelt und Verkehr, Baden-Württemberg (Ministry for the Environment and Traffic of the state of Baden-Württemberg), Germany
Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), Belgium
Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources program of European Union

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