Abstract
The possibility that long term exposure to relatively weak power frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) could increase the risk of breast cancer has been investigated during the past decade. The hypothesis is based on the assumption that magnetic field exposures suppress melatonin production and that melatonin is protective against breast cancer. Most epidemiological studies have indicated little or no overall effect of EMF exposure, but some early studies suggested effects among premenopausal women, particularly for estrogen receptor positive breast tumors. The early studies were often limited by small numbers, crude exposure information and lack of information on confounding factors. In more recent occupational studies, again no overall risk increases were reported, but some studies found increased risks in certain subgroups, although with no consistent pattern across studies. A recent very large occupational study with improved exposure assessment and enough statistical power also for subgroup analyses found no indications of increased risks in any subgroups. Most of the recent well-designed residential studies report no increased risks, and similar findings are reported in the majority of studies of bed heating devices. Overall, the weight of the evidence available today does not suggest an increased risk of breast cancer related to EMF exposure.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stevens RG (1987) Electric power use and breast cancer: a hypothesis. Am J Epidemiol 125:556–561
Hill SM, Blask DE (1988) Effects of the pineal hormone melatonin on the proliferation and morphological characteristics of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) in culture. Cancer Res 48:6121–6126
Guerrero JM, Reiter RJ (1992) A brief survey of pineal gland-immune system interrelationships. Endocr Res 18:91–113
Reiter RJ, Melchiorri D, Sewerynek E, etal. (1995) A review of the evidence supporting melatonin’s role as an antioxidant. J Pineal Res 18:1–11
Blask DE (1997) Systemic, cellular, and molecular aspects of melatonin action on experimental breast carcinogenesis. In Stevens RG, Wilson BW, Anderson LE (eds) The Melatonin Hypothesis: Breast Cancer and use of Electric Power. Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, pp 189–230
Travis RC, Allen DS, Fentiman IS, Key TJ (2004) Melatonin and breast cancer: a prospective study. J Natl Cancer Inst 96:475–482
IARC (2002) Non-ionizing radiation. Part 1, static and extremely low-frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields, Vol. 80, Lyon
Portier CJ, Wolfe, M (1998) Assessment of health effects from exposure to power-line frequency electric and magnetic fields. NIH Publication
Neutra RR, DelPizzo V, Lee GM (2002) California EMF Program. An evaluation of the possible risks from electric and magnetic fields (emfs) from power lines, internal wiring, electrical occupations, and appliances. California Department of Health Services
Forssen UM, Feychting M, Rutqvist LE, Floderus B, Ahlbom A (2000) Occupational and residential magnetic field exposure and breast cancer in females. Epidemiology 11:24–29
Coogan PF, Clapp RW, Newcomb PA, etal. (1996) Occupational exposure to 60-hertz magnetic fields and risk of breast cancer in women. Epidemiology 7:459–464
Kliukiene J, Tynes T, Martinsen JI, Blaasaas KG, Andersen A (1999) Incidence of breast cancer in a Norwegian cohort of women with potential workplace exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields. Am J Indust Med 36:147–154
Loomis DP, Savitz DA, Ananth CV (1994) Breast cancer mortality among female electrical workers in the United States [see comments]. J Natl Cancer Inst 86:921–925
Van Wijngaarden E, Nylander-French LA, Millikan RC, Savitz DA, Loomis D (2001) Population-based case–control study of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and breast cancer. Ann Epidemiol 11:297–303
Forssen UM, Mezei G, Nise G, Feychting M (2004) Occupational magnetic field exposure among women in Stockholm County, Sweden. Occup Environ Med 61:594–602
Wertheimer N, Leeper E (1979) Electrical wiring configurations and childhood cancer. Am J Epidemiol 109:273–284
Feychting M, Ahlbom A (1993) Magnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Swedish high-voltage power lines. Am J Epidemiol 138:467–481
Forssen UM, Rutqvist LE, Ahlbom A, Feychting M (2005) Occupational magnetic fields and female breast cancer: a case–control study using Swedish population registers and new exposure data. Am J Epidemiol 161:250–259
Kliukiene J, Tynes T, Andersen A (2003) Follow-up of radio and telegraph operators with exposure to electromagnetic fields and risk of breast cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev 12:301–307
Kliukiene J, Tynes T, Andersen A (2004) Residential and occupational exposures to 50-Hz magnetic fields and breast cancer in women: a population-based study. Am J Epidemiol 159:852–861
Labreche F, Goldberg MS, Valois MF, etal. (2003) Occupational exposures to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and postmenopausal breast cancer. Am J Ind Med 44:643–652
Davis S, Mirick DK, Stevens RG (2002) Residential magnetic fields and the risk of breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 155:446–454
London SJ, Pogoda JM, Hwang KL, etal. (2003) Residential magnetic field exposure and breast cancer risk: a nested case–control study from a multiethnic cohort in Los Angeles County, California. Am J Epidemiol 158:969–980
Schoenfeld ER, O’Leary ES, Henderson K, etal. (2003) Electromagnetic fields and breast cancer on Long Island: a case–control study. Am J Epidemiol 158:47–58
Kabat GC, O’Leary ES, Schoenfeld ER, etal. (2003) Electric blanket use and breast cancer on Long Island. Epidemiology 14:514–520
Zhu K, Hunter S, Payne-Wilks K, Roland CL, Forbes DS (2003) Use of electric bedding devices and risk of breast cancer in African-American women. Am J Epidemiol 158:798–806
Vena JE, Graham S, Hellmann R, Swanson M, Brasure J (1991) Use of electric blankets and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 134:180–185
Vena JE, Freudenheim JL, Marshall JR, Laughlin R, Swanson M, Graham S (1994) Risk of premenopausal breast cancer and use of electric blankets. Am J Epidemiol 140:974–979
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Feychting, M., Forssén, U. Electromagnetic Fields and Female Breast Cancer. Cancer Causes Control 17, 553–558 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-9008-3
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-9008-3