Epidemiological study (observational study)

Residence near power lines and mortality from neurodegenerative diseases: longitudinal study of the Swiss population epidem.

By: Huss A, Spoerri A, Egger M, Röösli M

Published in: Am J Epidemiol 2009; 169 (2): 167-175

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A longitudinal study was conducted in Switzerland to investigate the relation between residential magnetic field exposure from power lines and mortality from neurodegenerative diseases.

Further details

Exposure by magnetic fields was assessed by calculating the distance of the residence to the nearest power line.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer disease, senile dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson disease, and multiple sclerosis

Type of risk estimation:

mortality

(hazard ratio)

Exposure

Assessment

calculation: distance of place of residence to nearest power line

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	distance of residence to 220 - 380 kV power line: ≥ 600 m
Group 2	distance of residence to 220 - 380 kV power line: 200 < 600 m
Group 3	distance of residence to 220 - 380 kV power line: 50 < 200 m
Group 4	distance of residence to 220 - 380 kV power line: 0 < 50 m

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: ≥ 30 years
Characteristics: Swiss population
Observation period: 2000 - 2005
Study location: Switzerland
Data source: 2000 national census, Swiss National Cohort
Exclusion criteria: persons under 30 years, persons with incomplete information on building coordinates

Study size

Type	Value
Total	7,290,000
Eligible	4,650,000

Other:

follow-up: 22.82 million person-years

Statistical analysis method:

Cox proportional regressions analysis

(adjustment:

sex
residential area
education
occupation, civil status, urbanization category, number of apartments/building, living within 50 m of a major road

)

Results (acc. to author)

9.2 % of the Swiss population live within 600 m of a 220 or 380 kV power line. During the study period 282,378 deaths from all causes were registered. The hazard ratio of Alzheimer disease for persons living within 50 m from a power line was 1.24 (CI: 0.80; 1.92). Beyond 50 m there was little evidence of an increased risk. A dose-response relation with respect to years of residence within 50 m of a power line was observed: the hazard ratio was 2.00 (CI: 1.21; 3.33) for persons living for 15 years in the vicinity of a power line. For senile dementia, the same pattern was observed, however the association tended to be weaker. No increased risk was found for Parkinson disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.
The authors concluded that the results indicate a possible association between magnetic fields of power lines and the risks of Alzheimer disease and senile dementia.

Limitations (acc. to author)

Despite the large sample size, the findings should be interpreted with caution because of the lack of known biologic mechanisms.

Study funded by

Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)

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