Study type:
Epidemiological study
(observational study)
Could the geomagnetic field be an effect modifier for studies of power-frequency magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia?
epidem.
By:
Swanson J, Kheifets L
Published in: J Radiol Prot 2012; 32 (4): 413-418
Aim of study (acc. to author)
Further details
No biophysical mechanism of interaction between the magnetic fields and living systems has yet been identified that is capable of producing significant effects at the sub-microtesla levels implicated by the epidemiological studies on childhood leukemia. A candidate mechanism for a causal link is effects of magnetic fields on biological reactions involving free radicals. It predicts effects from variations in static magnetic fields as well as alternating magnetic fields, and therefore different consequences at different locations on the earth's surface due to variations in geomagnetic field.
The present study is based on the pooled analyses of Ahlbom et al (2000) and Kheifets et al (2010) including following eleven studies: Feychting et al, 1993 (Sweden), Verkasalo et al, 1993 (Finland), Linet et al, 1997 (USA), Michaelis et al, 1997 (Germany), McBride et al, 1999 (Canada), UK Childhood Cancer Study Investigators, 1999 (UK), Schüz et al, 2001 (Germany), Kabuto et al, 2006 (Japan), Malagoli et al, 2010 (Italy), Kroll et al, 2010 (UK), and Wünsch Filho et al, 2011 (Brazil).
Endpoint/type of risk estimation
Type of risk estimation:
(odds ratio (OR))
Exposure
Assessment
- list: identification of the northernmost and southernmost points of each relevant geographical area from which each study drew subjects; determination of the international geomagnetic reference fields for all selected points provided by the National Geophysical Data Center
- calculation: average geomagnetic field for each study
Exposure groups
|
Group
|
Description
|
|
Group 1
|
magnetic field exposure ≥ 0.3 µT, respectively 0.4 µT and geomagnetic field
|
Population
-
Group:
-
Age:
0–15 years
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Characteristics:
childhood leukemia
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Observation period:
1960 - 2009
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Study location:
Sweden, Finland, Germany, Italy, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil
Statistical analysis method:
Results (acc. to author)
Limitations (acc. to author)
The analysis is limited because, except for the Brazilian study, about which there are methodological questions, all the available studies are from a relatively narrow range of geographic latitudes and hence geomagnetic fields. The spread of geomagnetic fields between the investigated countries is not much greater than typical perturbations to the geomagnetic field within a country.
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