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Testicular cancer and electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the workplace: results of a population-based case-control study
Cornelia Baumgardt-Elms1, Wolfgang Ahrens, Katja Bromen
1Hamburg Cancer Registry, Adolph-Schönfelder-Strasse 5, 22 083 Hamburg, Germany. cornelia.baumgardt-elms@bug.hamburg.de
Objectives:
In a population-based case-control study, we examined the association of testicular cancer and electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the workplace.
Methods:
Incident cases (n = 269) were recruited between 1995 and 1997. A total of 797 controls matched on age and region were randomly selected from mandatory registries of residents. EMF exposure was assessed for five categories in standardized face-to-face interviews using closed questions. For each exposure category, odds ratios (OR) were calculated, stratified by age and region, and in a more complex model weighted by duration and distance using conditional logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were conducted for seminoma and non-seminoma and for blue- and white-collar workers. Additionally, potential radar exposure was individually assessed by experts based on all available information including free text.
Results:
There was no excess risk for cases who reported to have ever worked near the following: radar units (OR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.60-1.75); radiofrequency emitters (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.60-1.24); electrical machines (OR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.72-1.33): high-voltage lines or high-voltage electrical transmission installations (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.38-1.18); or visual display units or complex electrical environments (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.67-1.21). The results for the weighted exposure and subgroup analyses did not differ substantially. For radar exposure as assessed by the experts, the OR was 0.4 (95% CI = 0.13-1.16).
Conclusions:
EMF exposure in the workplace does not seem to be a relevant risk factor for testicular cancer in our study.