[Effects of electromagnetic fields on health].
The World Health Organization published a monograph "Environmental Health Criteria-Extremely Low-frequency Electromagnetic Fields" in 2007 as a conclusion of the international project which started in 1996, and issued guidelines and recommendations on the measures to protect people exposed to the electromagnetic fields from high voltage power lines and electric appliances. The International Agency for Research on Cancer labeled the low frequency electromagnetic fields into the category "2B" meaning possibly carcinogenic to humans mainly based on epidemiologic studies worldwide which indicated an increased risk of childhood leukemia without any concrete evidence from animal and cell biology studies. The results of such epidemiologic study carried out in Japan are described here together with summary comments on the Environmental Health Criteria.
Saito
Tomohiro
T
Division of Pediatrics, Nagai Clinic.
D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D014944:World Health Organization