Abstract
Since 1979, several residential studies have examined the potential association between exposure to power-frequency (50-60 hertz) electromagnetic fields (EMF) and childhood cancer (Feychting and Ahlbom 1993;Savitz et al. 1988;Wertheimer and Leeper 1979). The initial research in this field examined all childhood cancers as an endpoint, whereas most recently completed (Linet et al. 1997;London et al. 1991) and ongoing studies focus on childhood leukemia (Miller and McBride, personal communication) and, to a lesser extent, on childhood brain cancer (Gurney et al. 1996;Preston-Martin et al. 1996a). One ongoing study in the U.K. includes both leukemia and childhood brain tumors. Initially, the EMF association appeared to be stronger with childhood brain tumors than with leukemia (Ahlbom 1988;Hutchinson 1992); however, several of the most recent studies of childhood brain tumors have found no association with EMF (Feychting and Ahlbom 1993;Gurney et al. 1996;Preston-Martin et al. 1996a).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahlbom A (1988) A review of the epidemiologic literature on magnetic fields and cancer. Scand J Work Environ Health 14:337–343.
Doll R (1991) Progress against cancer: an epidemiologic assessment. Am J Epidemiol 134(7):675–688.
Feychting M, Ahlbom A (1993) Magnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Swedish high-voltage power lines. Am J Epidemiol 138:467–481.
Gurney JG, Mueller BA, Davis S, Schwartz SM, Stevens RG, Kopecky KJ (1996) Childhood brain tumor occurrence in relation to residential power line configurations, electric heating sources, and electric appliance use. Am J Epidemiol 143:120–128.
Hutchinson GB (1992) Carcinogenic effects of exposure to electric fields and magnetic fields. EPRI TR-101175, A6–24. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA.
Kheifets L, Kelsey J (1996) Epidemiologic studies of electric and magnetic fields and cancer, In: Lin JC (ed) Advances in Electromagnetic Fields in Living Systems. Plenum Press, New York.
Kheifets LI, Kavet R, Sussman SS (1997) Wire codes, magnetic fields and childhood cancer. Bioelectromagnetics 18:99–110.
Kraut A, Tate R, Tran N (1994) Residential electric consumption and childhood cancer in Canada (1971–1986). Arch Environ Health 49:156–159.
Kuijten RR, Bunin GR, Nass CC, Meadows AT (1990) Gestational and familial risk factors for childhood astrocytoma: results of a case-control study. Cancer Res 50: 2608–2612.
Kuijten RR, Bunin GR (1993) Risk factors for childhood brain tumors. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prey 2:277–288.
Lin RS, Lu PY (1989) An epidemiologic study of chi ldhood cancer in relation to residential exposure to electromagnetic fields. DOE/EPRI contractors meeting, Portland, Oregon, November 1989 (abstract).
Linet MS, Hatch EE, Kleinerman RA, Robison LL, Kaune WT, Friedman DR, Severson RK, Haines CM, Hartsock CT, Niwa S, Wacholder S, Tarone RE (1997) Residential exposure to magnetic fields and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. N Engl J Med 337:1–7.
London SJ, Thomas DC, Bowman JD, Sobel E, Cheng TC, Peters JM (1991) Exposure to residential electric and magnetic fields and risk of childhood leukemia. Am J Epidemiol 134:923–937.
McCredie M, Maisonneuve P, Boyle P (1994) Perinatal and early postnatal risk factors for malignant brain tumours in New South Wales children. Int J Cancer 56:11–15.
Miller BA, Ries LA, Hankey BF, Kosary CL, Harms A, Devesa SS, Edwards BK. SEER Cancer Statistics Review: 1973–1990. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (1993).
Myers A, Clayden AD, Cartwright RA, Cartwright SC (1990) Childhood cancer and overhead powerlines: a case-control study. Br J Cancer 62:1008–1014.
National Academy of Sciences (1996) Possible health effects of exposure to residential electric and magnetic fields. National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Olsen JH, Nielsen A, Schulgen G (1993) Residence near high voltage facilities and risk of cancer in children. Br Med J 307:891–895.
Parker SL, Tong T, Bolden S, Wingo PA (1997) Cancer statistics, 1997. CA Cancer J Clin 47:5–27.
Pearson RL, Wachtel H, Ebi KL (1996) Childhood cancer risk, wire codes, and residential environment and lifestyle factors. EPRI-TR-106376. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA.
Preston-Martin S, Navidi W, Thomas D, Lee PJ, Bowman J, Pogoda J (1996a) Los Angeles study of residential magnetic fields and childhood brain tumors. Am J Epidemiol 143:105–119.
Preston-Martin, S, Gurney JG, Pogoda JM, Holly EA, Mueller BA (1996b) Brain tumor risk in children in relation to use of electric blankets and water bed heaters. Am J Epidemiol 143(11):1116–1122.
Savitz DA, Wachtel H, Barnes FA, John EM, Tvrdik JG (1988) Case-control study of childhood cancer and exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields. Am J Epidemiol 128:21–38.
Savitz DA, John EM, Kleckner RC (1990) Magnetic field exposure from electric appliances and childhood cancer. Am J Epidemiol 131:763–773.
Stiller CA, Nectoux J (1994) International incidence of childhood brain and spinal tumors. Int J Epidemiol 23:458–464.
Tomenius L (1986) 50-Hz electromagnetic environment and the incidence of childhood tumors in Stockholm County. Bioelectromagnetics 7:191–207.
Tynes T, Haldorsen T (1997) Electromagnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Norwegian high-voltage power lines. Am J Epidemiol 145:219–226.
Verkasalo PK, Pukkala E, Hongisto MY, Valjus JE, Jarvinen PJ, Heikkila KV, Koskenvuo M (1993) Risk of cancer in Finnish children living close to power lines. Br Med J 307:895–899.
Wertheimer N, Leeper E (1979) Electrical wiring configurations and childhood cancer. Am J Epidemiol 109:273–284.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kheifets, L.I., Sussman, S.S., Preston-Martin, S. (1999). Childhood Brain Tumors and Residential Electromagnetic Fields (EMF). In: Ware, G.W. (eds) Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 159. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1496-0_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1496-0_5
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7167-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-1496-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive