Exposure to electromagnetic fields and suicide among electric utility workers: a nested case-control study

Objective To examine mortality from suicide in relation to estimated exposu re to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields in a cohort of 138,905 male electric utility workers. . Methods Case-control sampling, which incl uded 536 deaths from suicide and 5,348 eligible controls. Exposures was cla ssified based on work in the most common jobs with increased exposure to ma gnetic fields and indices of cumulative exposure to magnetic fields based o n a measurement survey. . Results Suicide Mortality was increased relative to work in exposed jobs and with indices of exposure to magnetic fields. In creased odds ratios (ORs) were found for years of employment as an electric ian (OR, 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-3.80) or line worker (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.18-2.14), whereas a decreased OR was found for power plane operators (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.33-1.40). A dose-response gradient with exp osure to magnetic fields was found for exposure in the previous year, with a mortality OR of 1.70 (35% CI, 1.00-2.90) in the highest exposure category Stronger associations, with ORs in the range of 2.12 to 3.62, were found f or men younger than 50 years. . Conclusions These data provide evidence for an association between occupational electromagnetic fields and suicide tha t warrants further evaluation. A plausible mechanism related to melatonin a nd depression provides a direction for additional laboratory research and e pidemiologic evaluation.