Epidemiological studies of exposures to electromagnetic fields: II. Cancer

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Abstract
The results of epidemiological studies of possible associations between exposure to electromagnetic fields and cancer are summarised. A risk has been identified to workers in electrical and electronic occupations of leukaemia and brain tumours. The estimated level of this risk is likely to have been overestimated due to the confounding factor of occupational class. The highest risk appears to be to those who may be exposed to other carcinogenic agents. Apart from an isolated Swedish study, the only studies indicating a cancer risk due to living in proximity to power supply lines have been in the Denver area of the United States. These indicate that the risk, if real, is probably confined to children. There may be confounding factors of maternal smoking, degree of access to medical care, and traffic density. The risk estimates based on measured magnetic fields, as distinct from those based on distance from the lines, yield lower and more uncertain values.