Leukemia, brain tumors, and exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in Swiss railway employees

Railway engineers provide excellent opportunities for studying the relation between exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and leukemia or brain tumors. In a cohort study of Swiss railway personnel with 2.7 x 10(5) person-years of follow-up (1972-1993), the authors compared occupations with high average exposures (line engineers: 25.9 muT) to those with medium and low exposures (station masters: 1 muT). The mortality rate ratio for leukemia was 2.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0, 6.1) among line engineers (reference category: station masters). The mortality rate ratio for brain tumors was 1.0 (95% CI: 0.2, 4.6) among line engineers and 5.1 (95% CI: 1.2, 21.2) among shunting yard engineers (compared with station masters). Two exposure characteristics were evaluated: cumulative exposure in muT-years and years spent under exposure to magnetic fields of greater than or equal to 10 muT. There was a significant increase in leukemia mortality of 0.9% (95% CI: 0.2, 1.7) per muT-year of cumulative exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields. The increase by years spent under exposure of greater than or equal to 10 muT was even stronger: 62% per year (95% CI: 15, 129). Brain cancer risk did not show a dose-response relation. This study contributes to the evidence for a link between heavy exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and leukemia. Its strengths include reliable measurements and reliable historical reconstruction of exposures.