Occupational exposure to radio frequency/microwave radiation and the risk of brain tumors: Interphone Study Group, Germany.
It is still under debate whether occupational exposure to radio frequency/microwave electromagnetic fields (RF/MW-EMF) contributes to the development of brain tumors. This analysis examined the role of occupational RF/MW-EMF exposure in the risk of glioma and meningioma. A population-based, case-control study including 381 meningioma cases, 366 glioma cases, and 1,494 controls aged 30-69 years was performed in three German regions in 2000-2003. An exposure matrix for occupational activity was constructed by using information on RF/MW-EMF exposure collected in a computer-assisted personal interview. "High" exposure was defined as an occupational exposure that may exceed the RF/MW-EMF exposure limits for the general public recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Multiple conditional logistic regressions were performed separately for glioma and meningioma. No significant association between occupational exposure to RF/MW-EMF and brain tumors was found. For glioma, the adjusted odds ratio for highly exposed persons compared with persons not highly exposed was 1.21 (95% confidence interval: 0.69, 2.13); for meningioma, it was 1.34 (95% confidence interval: 0.64, 2.81). However, the slight increase in risk observed with increasing duration of exposure merits further research with larger sample sizes.
Berg
Gabriele
G
Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany. gabriele.berg@uni-bielefeld.de
Spallek
Jacob
J
Schüz
Joachim
J
Schlehofer
Brigitte
B
Böhler
Eva
E
Schlaefer
Klaus
K
Hettinger
Iris
I
Kunna-Grass
Katharina
K
Wahrendorf
Jürgen
J
Blettner
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005910:Glioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires