Impact of high electromagnetic field levels on childhood leukemia incidence

Teepen, Jop C.; Dijck, J.A.A.M. van

doi:10.1002/ijc.27542

Cited by 43 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…It has been documented that children may be especially susceptible to exposure to EMF-NIR [11], [17]; hence, there is a need to establish current levels of exposure in this age group [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Indoor Extremely Low Frequency and Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in the INMA-Granada Cohort

et al. 2014

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ObjectiveTo characterize the exposure to electric fields and magnetic fields of non-ionizing radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum (15 Hz to 100 kHz) in the dwellings of children from the Spanish Environment and Childhood-“INMA” population-based birth cohort.MethodologyThe study sample was drawn from the INMA-Granada cohort. Out of 300 boys participating in the 9–10 year follow-up, 123 families agreed to the exposure assessment at home and completed a specific ad hoc questionnaire gathering information on sources of non-ionizing radiation electric and magnetic fields inside the homes and on patterns of use. Long-term indoor measurements were carried out in the living room and bedroom.ResultsSurvey data showed a low exposure in the children's homes according to reference levels of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection but with large differences among homes in mean and maximum values. Daytime electrostatic and magnetic fields were below the quantification limit in 78.6% (92 dwellings) and 92.3% (108 dwellings) of houses, with an arithmetic mean value (± standard deviation) of 7.31±9.32 V/m and 162.30±91.16 nT, respectively. Mean magnetic field values were 1.6 lower during the night than the day. Nocturnal electrostatic values were not measured. Exposure levels were influenced by the area of residence (higher values in urban/semi-urban versus rural areas), type of dwelling, age of dwelling, floor of the dwelling, and season.ConclusionGiven the greater sensitivity to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields of children and following the precautionary principle, preventive measures are warranted to reduce their exposure.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Indoor Extremely Low Frequency and Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in the INMA-Granada Cohort

et al. 2014

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“…116 Methodological issues including possible confounding, selection bias, and measurement errors have been put forward as an alternate explanation for the observed association, and animal studies are ongoing to identify possible biological mechanisms. 117,118 If the association between extremely low-frequency-electromagnetic fields and childhood leukemia is causal, the overall population attributable risk has been estimated to be 1.9% (1% to 4% depending on the countries). 117,118 …”

Section: Environmental Risk Factors For Childhood Leukemiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood Leukemia and Primary Prevention

Whitehead

Metayer

Wiemels

et al. 2016

Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care

110

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Leukemia is the most common pediatric cancer, affecting 3,800 children per year in the United States. Its annual incidence has increased over the last decades, especially among Latinos. Although most children diagnosed with leukemia are now cured, many suffer long-term complications, and primary prevention efforts are urgently needed. The early onset of leukemia – usually before age five – and the presence at birth of “pre-leukemic” genetic signatures indicate that pre- and postnatal events are critical to the development of the disease. In contrast to most pediatric cancers, there is a growing body of literature – in the United States and internationally – that has implicated several environmental, infectious, and dietary risk factors in the etiology of childhood leukemia, mainly for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common subtype. For example, exposures to pesticides, tobacco smoke, solvents, and traffic emissions have consistently demonstrated positive associations with the risk of developing childhood leukemia. In contrast, intake of vitamins and folate supplementation during the pre-conception period or pregnancy, breastfeeding, and exposure to routine childhood infections have been shown to reduce the risk of childhood leukemia. Some children may be especially vulnerable to these risk factors, as demonstrated by a disproportionate burden of childhood leukemia in the Latino population of California. The evidence supporting the associations between childhood leukemia and its risk factors – including pooled analyses from around the world and systematic reviews – is strong; however, the dissemination of this knowledge to clinicians has been limited. To protect children’s health, it is prudent to initiate programs designed to alter exposure to well-established leukemia risk factors rather than to suspend judgement until no uncertainty remains. Primary prevention programs for childhood leukemia would also result in the significant co-benefits of reductions in other adverse health outcomes that are common in children, such as detriments to neurocognitive development.

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“…Yet, given how few cases and controls are actually exposed to ELF-MFs greater than 0.4 µT, it is roughly estimated that between one and two additional cases (per 500) would arise as a result of artificial ELF-exposure (UK Childhood Cancer Study Investigators, 1999;Kroll et al, 2010). Further analysis by Teepen and Dijck (2012) also estimated that ELF-MF exposure potentially only contributes an overall population attributable risk (PAR) percentage of 1.9(%).…”

Section: Epidemiological Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%