Epidemiological study (observational study)

Risk factors for pediatric tumors of the central nervous system: results from a German population-based case-control study epidem.

By: Schüz J, Kaletsch U, Kaatsch P, Meinert R, Michaelis J

Published in: Med Pediatr Oncol 2001; 36 (2): 274-282

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Two case-control studies on childhood cancer and a variety of potential risk factors (including residential magnetic fields) were conducted in Germany. This publication focused on central nervous tumors whereas further results on other childhood leukemia are presented in Michaelis et al. (1997) and Michaelis et al. (1998).

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

brain tumor: tumors of the central nervous system: astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and other types

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- electric field
- magnetic field
- also other exposures without EMF
- power transmission line
- electric blanket
- residential

Assessment

measurement: measurements of the 50 Hz magnetic field over 24 hr at the residence where the child had lived longest

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	exposure to residential magnetic fields, median of 24h-measurement: < 0.2 µT
Group 2	exposure to residential magnetic fields, median of 24h-measurement: ≥ 0.2 µT
Reference group 3	exposure to residential magnetic fields, median during night: < 0.2 µT
Group 4	exposure to residential magnetic fields, median during night: ≥ 0.2 µT
Reference group 5	maternal use of electric blankets during pregnancy: no
Group 6	maternal use of electric blankets during pregnancy: yes

Population

Group:
- children
Age: 0–14 years
Observation period: July 1988 - June 1993 in Lower Saxony, October 1992 - September 1994 in West-Germany
Study location: Germany (former Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany))

Case group

Data source: German Childhood Cancer Registry

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- area

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Contacted	573	3,575
Evaluable	466	2,458

Statistical analysis method:

conditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
socioeconomic status
degree of urbanization

)

Results (acc. to author)

Only 2 out of 64 cases were exposed to residential magnetic fields of 0.2 µT and more. A non-significantly increased risk of CNS tumors was observed for magnetic field exposure of 0.2 µT and more during the night (OR 2.60, CI 0.45-14.9), however based on 2 cases and 5 controls. There was no association between CNS tumor risk and maternal use of electric blankets during pregnancy.
The authors concluded that their results for residential magnetic fields do not contradict the findings of Kheifets et al. (1999), who found no evidence for an association between childhood brain tumor and exposure to electromagnetic fields.

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