OCCUPATIONAL ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC-FIELD EXPOSURE AND LEUKEMIA - A META-ANALYSIS

We conducted a meta-analysis to acquire an understanding of the associ ation between leukemia and occupational exposure to electric and magne tic fields, To explore sources of heterogeneity, study characteristics were scored and examined using regression analysis. While most studie s present a small elevation in risk, the apparent lack of a clear patt ern of exposure to EMF and risk of leukemia substantially detracts fro m the hypothesis that measured magnetic fields in the work environment are responsible for the observed excess risk of leukemia. Findings we re not sensitive to assumptions, influence of individual studies, weig hting schemes, and modeling, Some evidence of publication bias is note d.