| Author, year | Study population (location) | Exposure assessment | Covariates | Exposure group | RR (95% CI); observed* |
| Baris et al, 199677 | 21 744 male electric utility workers followed from 1970 to 1988; case–cohort study of 49 suicide deaths and 217 randomly selected workers (Canada) | Job-exposure matrix based on positron measurements Arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) of electric, magnetic and pulsed electromagnetic fields | Socioeconomic status, alcohol use, marital status and mental disorders | Cumulative electric fields (V/m) (AM) <136.10136.10–<308.60308.60+Cumulative electric fields (V/m) (GM) <23.1023.10–<40.3040.30+ | 1.0 (–); 211.6 (0.5 to 5.1); 151.7 (0.4 to 8.0); 131.0 (–); 162.8 (0.9 to 8.1); 201.8 (0.4 to 8.5); 13 |
| Kelsh and Sahl, 199779 | 40 335 electric utility workers followed from 1960 to 1991 (USA) | Collapsed similar job titles into homogenous occupational groups. Analysis based on usual occupation | Age, gender | Occupational categoryAdministrative/technical/clericalManagement/professionalService/labourLinemenMeter reader/field servicePlant operationsTrade/craft | 1.0 (–); 180.9 (0.3 to 2.5); 52.2 (0.96 to 5.2); 82.0 (1.1 to 3.8); 222.0 (0.6 to 7.1); 32.7 (1.3 to 5.5); 132.0 (1.0 to 3.8); 19 |
| Johansen and Olsen, 1998†61 | 21 236 male electric utility workers followed from 1974 to 1993 (Denmark) | Job-exposure matrix for magnetic fields based on 24-h measurements and judgment | Age | Estimated average exposure (μT) ⩽0.090.1–0.290.3–0.991.0+ | 1.0 (0.6 to 1.6); 190.8 (0.6 to 1.1); 370.9 (0.7 to 1.2); 411.4 (0.98 to 1.9); 36 |
| Van Wijngaarden et al, 200076 | 138 905 male electric utility workers followed from 1950 to 1988; nested case–control study of 536 suicide deaths and 5348 controls (USA) | Job-exposure matrix for magnetic fields based on time-weighted average measurements | Age, ethnicity, work status, social class, geographic location and exposure to solvents and sunlight | Recent cumulative exposure (past year) (μT-years)0>0–0.0290.03–0.0490.05–0.110.12+ | 1.0 (–); 2941.2 (0.8 to 1.9); 581.4 (0.9 to 2.3); 621.6 (0.97 to 2.7); 621.7 (1.0 to 2.9); 60 |
| Jarvholm and Stenberg, 2002‡80 | 33 719 male electricians and 72 653 male glass or woodworkers followed from 1971 to 1997 (Sweden) | Job title | Age, calendar year | ElectriciansCompared with general populationCompared with glass-and woodworkers | 0.6 (0.5 to 0.7); 950.7 (0.6 to 0.9); 95 |
| van Wijngaarden, 200381 | 11 707 suicides and 132 771 deceased controls identified from death registry 1991–1992 (USA) | Job titles grouped according to presumed electromagnetic field exposure | Age, gender, race, marital status, geographic area, education | Occupational categoryNot exposedExposed§ | 1.0 (–); 11,2831.3 (1.2 to 1.4); 424 |
*Observed number of suicide deaths; †standardised mortality ratios (SMRs), confidence intervals computed from information provided in original paper; ‡standardised mortality ratio; §electrical and electronics engineers; electrical, household and telephone repairers; electrical and electronics technicians; broadcast equipment operators; electricians and electrician apprentices; power plant operators; and motion picture projectionists.