Occupational exposure to electromagnetic field and breast cancer risk in a large, population-based, case-control study in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to evaluate women who were occupationally exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and breast cancer risk.


METHODS
Women diagnosed with breast cancer (n=6213) and randomly selected age-matched control subjects (n=7390) provided breast cancer risk factor information and occupational history. A qualified industrial hygienist classified each job for EMF exposure as background, low, medium, or high.


RESULTS
When compared with the referent of background exposure, the odds ratio adjusted for age and state of residence was 1.06 (95% CI=0.99-1.14) for low exposure, 1.09 (95% CI=0.96-1.23) for medium exposure, and 1.16 (95% CI=0.90-1.50) for high exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings, taken together with previous epidemiological studies, suggest that exposure to EMF in the workplace may be associated with a slight elevation in breast cancer risk.
McElroy
Jane A
JA
University of Wisconsin Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53726, USA. jamcelroy@wisc.edu
Egan
Kathleen M
KM
Titus-Ernstoff
Linda
L
Anderson
Henry A
HA
Trentham-Dietz
Amy
A
Hampton
John M
JM
Newcomb
Polly A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States