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Electromagnetic fields and breast cancer on Long Island: a case-control study
E R Schoenfeld1, E S O'Leary, K Henderson
1Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8036, USA. eschoenfeld@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
American Journal of Epidemiology
|July 2, 2003
Summary
The EMF and Breast Cancer on Long Island Study found no significant association between residential electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and breast cancer risk. This case-control study indicates EMFs are unlikely to be a contributing factor to breast cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding potential health risks of electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
- Previous research on EMF exposure and breast cancer has yielded inconsistent results.
- The Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project provided a cohort for investigating environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between residential electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and breast cancer incidence.
- To assess different types of EMF measurements, including spot, 24-hour, and ground-current magnetic fields.
- To analyze data from a well-defined case-control study population.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed, recruiting women from the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project.
- In-home measurements included spot and 24-hour EMFs, ground-current magnetic fields, and power line mapping.
- Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant association was found between residential EMF exposure and breast cancer.
- Odds ratios for the highest EMF exposure quartiles were close to 1 and nonsignificant.
- Specific results showed an odds ratio of 0.97 for 24-hour EMFs in bedrooms and 1.13 for ground-currents in bedrooms.
Conclusions:
- The study's findings do not support an association between residential EMF exposure and breast cancer.
- Results align with other recent reports suggesting no link between EMFs and breast cancer.
- Further research may be warranted, but current evidence indicates EMFs are not a significant risk factor.
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