Childhood brain tumor occurrence in relation to external power lines and other sources of residential magnetic fields. Final report
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (United States); and others
A population-based case-control study of incident brain tumors was conducted in the Seattle area among children younger than 20 years, diagnosed from 1984-1990; mothers of 133 cases and 270 controls participated. The relation between childhood brain tumor occurrence and exposure to potential sources of residential magnetic fields was assessed, focusing on whether proximity to high-current residential power lines or use of electric appliances or electric heating sources by the mother while pregnant or by the child before diagnosis, were associated with increased risks of brain tumor occurrence. For the 120 cases and 240 controls, risk of brain tumor occurrence did not increase with increasing magnetic field exposure as indicated by the 5-level Wertheimer-Leeper (W-L) code. Relative to those with underground wiring, the odds ratios for increasing exposure levels were: very low current configuration, 1.3; ordinary low current configuration, 0.7; ordinary high-current configuration, 1.1; and very high current configuration, 0.5. When exposure was dichotomized as high versus low, the odds ratio was 0.9 (95% CI 0.5-1.5) and did not vary significantly. When the analysis was restricted to the 96 subjects known to live in only one home, the odds ratio was 1.1. The distributions of the 5-level W-L code were similar between study participants and non-respondents, and odds ratios were not appreciably changed when non-respondents were included in the analysis. No elevations in risk were found for ever-versus-never use of electric blankets, water beds, or electric heating sources. Odds ratios were slightly elevated for nine appliances and were at or below 1.0 for eight others. These data do not support the hypothesis that exposure to magnetic fields from high-current power lines, electric heating sources, or electric appliances, is associated with the subsequent occurrence of brain tumors in children.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Palo Alto, CA (United States); Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 158455
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-105274; TRN: 96:005118
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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