Epidemiological study

Maternal proximity to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and risk of birth defects epidem.

By: Auger N, Arbour L, Luo W, Lee GE, Bilodeau-Bertrand M, Kosatsky T

Published in: Eur J Epidemiol 2019; 34 (7): 689-697

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A large retrospective study was conducted in Canada to investigate whether maternal residential proximity to electromagnetic fields from electrical power grids is associated with the risk of birth defects.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

reproductive effects and pregnancy outcomes: birth defects: central nervous system, sense organs (eye, nose, ear), orofacial clefts, heart, respiratory, digestive, abdominal wall/diaphragm, genitourinary, and musculoskeletal systems, multiple defects

Type of risk estimation:

prevalence

(relative risk (RR))

Exposure

- power transmission line
- electrical substation
- residential

Assessment

calculation: distance between the maternal residential postal code at delivery to nearest powerline and transformer station by geocoding

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	distance to power line: ≥ 200 m
Group 2	distance to power line: < 200 m
Reference group 3	distance to transformer station: ≥ 200 m
Group 4	distance to transformer station: < 200 m

Population

Group:
- women
- children in utero
- newborns
Observation period: 1989 - 2016
Study location: Canada (Quebec)

Study size

Type	Value
Total	2,164,246

Statistical analysis method:

Poisson regression model
logistic regression

(adjustment:

mother: age, parity, multiple birth, maternal morbidity (diabetes, epilepsy, mood disorder, obesity, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, illicit drugs, tobacco, alcohol consumption), rural residence, socioeconomic status, time period; child: sex

)

Results (acc. to author)

The prevalence of birth defects within 200 m of a power line (579.4 per 10,000 live births) was only slightly higher compared with distances further away (568.7 per 10,000). A similar trend was seen for transformer stations. A distance of 50 m was not associated with the risk of birth defects for power lines (RR 1.00, CI 1.00–1.01) and transformer stations (RR 1.01, CI 1.00–1.03). There was no consistent association when birth defects were examined in different organ systems.
The authors concluded that they found no compelling evidence that residential proximity to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields from electrical power grids increases the risk of birth defects.

Study funded by

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Le Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada (Agence de la santé publique du Canada)

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