Occupational exposure to magnetic fields relative to mortality from brain tumours: updated and revised findings from a study of United Kingdom electricity generation and transmission workers, 1973-97
T Sorahan, L Nichols, M van Tongeren, J M Harrington
Institute of
Occupational Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham
B15 2TT, UK
Correspondence to: Professor T M Sorahan T.M.Sorahan{at}bham.ac.uk
Accepted 1 June 2001
OBJECTIVE
To
investigate whether risk of brain tumour is related to occupational
exposure to magnetic fields.
METHODSThe
mortality experienced by a cohort of 83 997 employees of the former
Central Electricity Generating Board of England and Wales was
investigated for the period 1973-97. All workers were employed for at
least 6 months with some employment in the period 1973-82.
Computerised work histories were available for 79 972 study subjects
for the period 1971-93. Detailed calculations had been performed by
others to enable a novel assessment to be made of exposures to magnetic
fields. Two analytical approaches were used, indirect standardisation
(n=83 997) and Poisson regression (n=79 972).
RESULTSBased
on serial mortalities for England and Wales, deaths from brain cancer
were close to expectation (observed 158, expected 146.4). No
significant positive trends were shown for risks of brain tumours
either with lifetime cumulative exposure to magnetic fields or with
such exposures received in the most recent 5 years.
CONCLUSIONSThere
are no discernible excess risks of brain tumours as a consequence of
occupational exposure to magnetic fields in United Kingdom electricity
generation and transmission workers.
Keywords: magnetic fields; brain tumours; electricity generation and transmission; cohort mortality study
© 2001 by Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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