Epidemiological study (observational study)

Childhood Leukemia and 50 Hz Magnetic Fields: Findings from the Italian SETIL Case-Control Study epidem.

By: Salvan A, Ranucci A, Lagorio S, Magnani C

Published in: Int J Environ Res Public Health 2015; 12 (2): 2184-2204

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in Italy to investigate the association between childhood leukemia and exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF).

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

childhood leukemia

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

questionnaire: lifelong residential history of the child and the mother (during pregnancy), with details on all dwellings including full address, location (urban or rural), nearby traffic density, and proximity to power lines and broadcasting stations; maternal (during pregnancy) and child's exposure to electrical appliances at home
measurement: long-term measurements (48 h following the protocol) of magnetic flux density in the child's bedroom under or close to the bed with sampling interval set 30 s
calculation: arithmetic mean, geometric mean, and percentiles of measurement values of magnetic flux density

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom: ≤ 0.1 µT
Group 2	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, arithmetic mean: > 0.1 - 0.2 µT
Group 3	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, arithmetic mean: > 0.2 µT
Group 4	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, geometric mean: > 0.1 - 0.2 µT
Group 5	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, geometric mean: > 0.2 µT
Group 6	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, percentiles: > 0.1 - 0.2 µT
Group 7	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, percentiles: > 0.2 µT
Group 8	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, percentiles: > 0.1 - 0.2 µT
Group 9	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, percentiles: > 0.2 - 0.3 µT
Group 10	magnetic flux density in child's bedroom, percentiles: > 0.3 µT

Population

Group:
- children
Age: 0–10 years
Observation period: 1998 - 2001
Study location: Italy (14 regions: Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Latium, Campania, Puglia, East Sicily, West Sicily, Sardinia)

Case group

Data source: database of pediatric cancer

Control group

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

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	745	1,475
Evaluable	412	587

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression
conditional logistic regression
sensitivity analyses

(adjustment:

age
sex
residential area

)

Results (acc. to author)

The geometric mean of magnetic flux density was 0.04 µT. Overall, 3 out of 540 (0.6%) children with leukemia and 13 out of 830 (1.6%) control children were exposed to magnetic flux densities of more than 0.3 µT.
No association between childhood leukemia and residential exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields was observed in analyses based on continuous exposure, while analyses based on categorical variables were characterized by incoherent exposure-outcome relationships.
The authors conclude that their results may be affected by several sources of bias and they are not informative at exposure levels of more than 0.3 µT. Nonetheless, the present study may contribute to future meta-analyses or pooled analyses. Furthermore, exposure levels among population can be useful to estimate attributable risk.

Study funded by

Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC; Italian Association for Cancer Research), Italy
Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MIUR (formerly MURST (Ministero dell' Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica); Ministry of Education, University and Research), Italy
Progetti Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata, Regione Piemonte, Italy
Programmi di Ricerca Scientifica di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN): Effect of electromagnetic fields on living organisms, PRIN 2004-06 (Italy)

Amoon AT et al. (2022): Pooled analysis of recent studies of magnetic fields and childhood leukemia
Seomun G et al. (2021): Exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and childhood cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Núñez-Enríquez JC et al. (2020): Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and the Risk of Childhood B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a City With High Incidence of Leukemia and Elevated Exposure to ELF Magnetic Fields
Auger N et al. (2019): Residential exposure to electromagnetic fields during pregnancy and risk of child cancer: A longitudinal cohort study
Crespi CM et al. (2019): Childhood leukemia risk in the California Power Line Study: Magnetic fields versus distance from power lines
Swanson J et al. (2019): Changes over time in the reported risk for childhood leukaemia and magnetic fields
Swanson J et al. (2018): Reanalysis of risks of childhood leukaemia with distance from overhead power lines in the UK
Amoon AT et al. (2018): Proximity to overhead power lines and childhood leukaemia: an international pooled analysis
Kheifets L et al. (2017): Residential magnetic fields exposure and childhood leukemia: a population-based case-control study in California
Bunch KJ et al. (2016): Epidemiological study of power lines and childhood cancer in the UK: further analyses
Crespi CM et al. (2016): Childhood leukaemia and distance from power lines in California: a population-based case-control study
Zhang Y et al. (2016): Meta-analysis of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and cancer risk: a pooled analysis of epidemiologic studies
Pedersen C et al. (2015): Residential exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and risk of childhood leukaemia, CNS tumour and lymphoma in Denmark
Tabrizi MM et al. (2015): Increased risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by prenatal and postnatal exposure to high voltage power lines: a case control study in Isfahan, Iran
Tabrizi MM et al. (2015): Role of electromagnetic field exposure in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and no impact of urinary alpha-amylase - a case control study in Tehran, Iran
Leitgeb N (2015): Synoptic Analysis Clarifies Childhood Leukemia Risk from ELF Magnetic Field Exposure
Ba Hakim AS et al. (2014): ELF-EMF correlation study on distance from overhead transmission lines and acute leukemia among children in Klang Valley, Malaysia
Swanson J et al. (2014): Childhood cancer and exposure to corona ions from power lines: an epidemiological test
Bunch KJ et al. (2014): Residential distance at birth from overhead high-voltage powerlines: childhood cancer risk in Britain 1962-2008
Zhao L et al. (2014): Magnetic fields exposure and childhood leukemia risk: a meta-analysis based on 11,699 cases and 13,194 controls
Pedersen C et al. (2014): Distance from residence to power line and risk of childhood leukemia: a population-based case-control study in Denmark
Sermage-Faure C et al. (2013): Childhood leukaemia close to high-voltage power lines--the Geocap study, 2002-2007
Schüz J et al. (2012): Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an international follow-up study
Jirik V et al. (2012): Association between Childhood Leukaemia and Exposure to Power-frequency Magnetic Fields in Middle Europe
Swanson J et al. (2012): Could the geomagnetic field be an effect modifier for studies of power-frequency magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia?
Wünsch Filho V et al. (2011): Exposure to magnetic fields and childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kheifets L et al. (2010): Pooled analysis of recent studies on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia
Sohrabi MR et al. (2010): Living near overhead high voltage transmission power lines as a risk factor for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case-control study
Kroll ME et al. (2010): Childhood cancer and magnetic fields from high-voltage power lines in England and Wales: a case-control study
Kheifets L et al. (2010): A Pooled Analysis of Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and Childhood Brain Tumors
Malagoli C et al. (2010): Risk of hematological malignancies associated with magnetic fields exposure from power lines: a case-control study in two municipalities of northern Italy
Rahman HIA et al. (2008): A case-control study on the association between environmental factors and the occurrence of acute leukemia among children in Klang Valley, Malaysia
Yang Y et al. (2008): Case-only study of interactions between DNA repair genes (hMLH1, APEX1, MGMT, XRCC1 and XPD) and low-frequency electromagnetic fields in childhood acute leukemia
Mezei G et al. (2008): Residential Magnetic Field Exposure and Childhood Brain Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Lowenthal RM et al. (2007): Residential exposure to electric power transmission lines and risk of lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders: a case-control study
Swanson J et al. (2006): Power-frequency electric and magnetic fields in the light of Draper et al. 2005
Kabuto M et al. (2006): Childhood leukemia and magnetic fields in Japan: a case-control study of childhood leukemia and residential power-frequency magnetic fields in Japan
Draper G et al. (2005): Childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage power lines in England and Wales: a case-control study
Greenland S et al. (2000): A pooled analysis of magnetic fields, wire codes, and childhood leukemia. Childhood Leukemia-EMF Study Group
Ahlbom A et al. (2000): A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia
Kleinerman RA et al. (2000): Are children living near high-voltage power lines at increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia?
UK Childhood Cancer Study Investigators (2000): Childhood cancer and residential proximity to power lines
Bianchi N et al. (2000): Overhead electricity power lines and childhood leukemia: a registry-based, case-control study
UK Childhood Cancer Study Investigators (1999): Exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields and the risk of childhood cancer
Green LM et al. (1999): A case-control study of childhood leukemia in southern Ontario, Canada, and exposure to magnetic fields in residences
Green LM et al. (1999): Childhood leukemia and personal monitoring of residential exposures to electric and magnetic fields in Ontario, Canada
Angelillo IF et al. (1999): Residential exposure to electromagnetic fields and childhood leukaemia: a meta-analysis
McBride ML et al. (1999): Power-frequency electric and magnetic fields and risk of childhood leukemia in Canada
Michaelis J et al. (1998): Combined risk estimates for two German population-based case-control studies on residential magnetic fields and childhood acute leukemia
Linet MS et al. (1997): Residential exposure to magnetic fields and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children
Tynes T et al. (1997): Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer in Children Residing Near Norwegian High-Voltage Power Lines
Michaelis J et al. (1997): Childhood leukemia and electromagnetic fields: results of a population-based case-control study in Germany
Petridou E et al. (1997): Electrical power lines and childhood leukemia: a study from Greece
Feychting M et al. (1993): Magnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Swedish high-voltage power lines
Verkasalo PK et al. (1993): Risk of cancer in Finnish children living close to power lines
Petridou E et al. (1993): Age of exposure to infections and risk of childhood leukaemia
Olsen J et al. (1993): Residence near high voltage facilities and risk of cancer in children
Myers A et al. (1990): Childhood cancer and overhead powerlines: a case-control study
Coleman MP et al. (1989): Leukaemia and residence near electricity transmission equipment: a case-control study