title: Occupational and residential exposure to electromagnetic fields and risk of brain tumors in adults: a case-control study in Gironde, France.
abstract: The etiology of brain tumors remains largely unknown. Among potential risk factors, exposure to electromagnetic fields is suspected. We analyzed the relationship between residential and occupational exposure to electromagnetic field and brain tumors in adults. A case-control study was carried out in southwestern France between May 1999 and April 2001. A total of 221 central nervous system tumors (105 gliomas, 67 meningiomas, 33 neurinomas and 16 others) and 442 individually age- and sex-matched controls selected from general population were included. Electromagnetic field exposure [extremely low frequency (ELF) and radiofrequency separately was assessed in occupational settings through expert judgement based on complete job calendar, and at home by assessing the distance to power lines with the help of a geographical information system. Confounders such as education, use of home pesticide, residency in a rural area and occupational exposure to chemicals were taken into account. Separate analyses were performed for gliomas, meningiomas and acoustic neurinomas. A nonsignificant increase in risk was found for occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields  [odds ratio (OR = 1.52, 0.92-2.51)]. This increase became significant for meningiomas, especially when considering ELF separately [OR = 3.02; 95 percent confidence interval (95% CI) =1.10-8.25]. The risk of meningioma was also higher in subjects living in the vicinity of power lines (<100 m), even if not significant (OR = 2.99, 95% CI 0.86-10.40). These data suggest that occupational or residential exposure to ELF may play a role in the occurrence of meningioma.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Santé Travail Environnement (EA 3672), Institut de Santé Publique, d'Épidémiologie et du Développement, IFR99, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France. isabelle.baldi@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Gaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coureau
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaffré
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ducamp
authors.forename: Dorothée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Provost
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebailly
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vital
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Loiseau
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salamon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012111:Residence Characteristics