Study type: Epidemiological study

Residential proximity to power lines and risk of brain tumor in the general population epidem.

Published in: Environ Res 2020; 185: 109473

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in France to investigate the association between residential proximity to power lines and brain tumors among adults.

Further details

Exposure assessment was performed by applying two geographical methods: use of the distance between the residence and the power lines (63, 90, 150, 225 und 400 kV) and use of exposure corridors corresponding to a magnetic flux density of at least 0.3 μT according to the number and voltage of the power lines. Further subgroups are not provided in the table above.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation: (odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

Exposure groups

Group Description
Reference group 1 cumulative duration living < 50 m from power line: never
Group 2 cumulative duration living < 50 m from power line: ever
Group 3 cumulative duration living < 50 m from power line: > 5 years
Group 4 cumulative duration living < 50 m from power line: > 10 years
Group 5 cumulative duration living < 50 m from power line: > 15 years
Reference group 6 cumulative duration living in an exposure corridor: never
Group 7 cumulative duration living in an exposure corridor: ever
Group 8 cumulative duration living in an exposure corridor: > 5 years
Group 9 cumulative duration living in an exposure corridor: > 10 years
Group 10 cumulative duration living in an exposure corridor: > 15 years

Population

Case group

Control group

Study size

Cases Controls
Evaluable 490 980
Other:

273 cases and 546 controls for gliomas; 217 cases and 434 controls for meningioma

Statistical analysis method: (adjustment: )

Results (acc. to author)

Statistically significant associations were observed between cumulated duration living at < 50 m to high voltage lines and all brain tumors (OR 2.94; CI 1.28–6.75) and gliomas (OR 4.96; CI 1.56–15.77). No association was found between brain tumors, gliomas or meningiomas and cumulative duration in exposure corridors.
The authors concluded that the results suggest that the risk of brain tumor, and particularly gliomas could be associated with residential extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure estimated by proximity of power lines.

Study funded by

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