Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and sex-differential risk of uveal melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
The association between occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and the risk of uveal melanoma was investigated in a case-control study in nine European countries.


METHODS
Incident cases of uveal melanoma and population as well as hospital controls were included and frequency matched by country, 5-year birth cohort and sex. Subjects were asked whether they had worked close to high-voltage electrical transmission installations, computer screens and various electrical machines, or in complex electrical environments. Measurements of two Scandinavian job-exposure matrices were applied to estimate lifelong cumulative EMF exposure. Unconditional logistic regression analyses, stratified by sex and eye colour were calculated, adjusting for several potential confounders.


RESULTS
293 patients with uveal melanoma and 3198 control subjects were interviewed. Women exposed to electrical transmission installations showed elevated risks (OR 5.81, 95% CI 1.72 to 19.66). Positive associations with exposure to control rooms were seen among men and women, but most risk increases were restricted to subjects with dark iris colour. Application of published EMF measurements revealed stronger risk increases among women compared to men. Again, elevated risks were restricted to subjects with dark eye colour.


CONCLUSIONS
Although based on a low prevalence of exposure to potential occupational sources of EMF, our data indicate that exposed dark-eyed women may be at particular risk for uveal melanoma.
Behrens
Thomas
T
Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine, Bremen, Germany. behrens@bips.uni-bremen.de
Lynge
Elsebeth
E
Cree
Ian
I
Sabroe
Svend
S
Lutz
Jean-Michel
JM
Afonso
Noemia
N
Eriksson
Mikael
M
Guénel
Pascal
P
Merletti
Franco
F
Morales-Suarez-Varela
Maria
M
Stengrevics
Aivars
A
Févotte
Joëlle
J
Llopis-González
Agustin
A
Gorini
Giuseppe
G
Sharkova
Galina
G
Hardell
Lennart
L
Ahrens
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000098943:Uveal Melanoma