NEED FOR A EUROPEAN APPROACH TO THE EFFECTS OF EXTREMELY-LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS ON CANCER

Background A European feasibility study on environmental exposure to e xtremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) and cancer was conducted. The study was motivated by public health concern about pos sible adverse health effects associated with ELF-EMF exposure. Methods A review of completed research in Europe was conducted. Information o n the methods and accessibility of new epidemiologic studies were requ ested and reviewed. Results Eight studies on environmental ELF-EMF exp osure have been completed in Europe while 15 large studies are in prog ress. Although there is no known mechanism by which electric or magnet ic fields of this frequency could play a role in the development of ca ncer or other adverse health effects, the results of the studies condu cted so far provide some support for the hypothesis that they are asso ciated with the incidence of childhood leukemia. Conclusions and recom mendations The best use of available data will be made through a poole d re-analysis of data, particularly those on childhood tumors. It is r ecommended to apply multiple methods for exposure assessment in view o f the heterogeneity in the methods used in different studies. New mult icenter case-referent studies should not be initiated until the result s of the large on-going studies have been reported. Prospective cohort studies will have to be very large to identify moderate excess risks resulting from environmental exposure to ELF-EMF, and their feasibilit y should be discussed after the results of the on-going case-referent studies have been reported. A European collaborative approach will lea d to greater statistical power and will assess the exposure-effect ass ociation under differing exposure patterns and distributions of potent ial confounding factors.