Epidemiological study

Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and the Risk of Childhood B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a City With High Incidence of Leukemia and Elevated Exposure to ELF Magnetic Fields epidem.

By: Núñez-Enríquez JC, Correa-Correa V, Flores-Lujano J, Pérez-Saldivar ML, Jiménez-Hernández E, Martín-Trejo JA, Espinoza-Hernández LE, Medina-Sanson A, Cárdenas-Cardos R, Flores-Villegas LV, Peñaloza-González JG, Torres-Nava JR, Espinosa-Elizondo RM, Amador-Sánchez R, Rivera-Luna R, Dosta-Herrera JJ, Mondragón-García JA, González-Ulibarri JE, Martínez-Silva SI, Espinoza-Anrubio G, Duarte-Rodríguez DA, García-Cortés LR, Gil-Hernández AE, Mejía-Aranguré JM

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2020; 41 (8): 581-597

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in Mexico to investigated the association between extremely low frequency magnetic fields and the risk of childhood B-Lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

childhood leukemia: B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field
- residential

Assessment

measurement: 24‐h measurements of magnetic flux density in the child's rooms near the bed
calculation: geometric means of measurement values

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	magnetic flux density: < 0.2 µT
Group 2	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.2 µT
Reference group 3	magnetic flux density: < 0.2 µT
Group 4	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.2 - < 0.3 µT
Group 5	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.3 µT
Reference group 6	magnetic flux density: < 0.2 µT
Group 7	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.2 - < 0.4 µT
Group 8	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.4 µT
Reference group 9	magnetic flux density: < 0.2 µT
Group 10	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.2 - < 0.5 µT
Group 11	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.5 µT
Reference group 12	magnetic flux density: < 0.2 µT
Group 13	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.2 - < 0.6 µT
Group 14	magnetic flux density: ≥ 0.6 µT

Population

Group:
- children
Age: 0–15 years
Observation period: 2010 - 2011
Study location: Mexico (Mexico City)

Case group

Characteristics: children with B-ALL
Data source: 9 public hospitals specialized in treating leukemia
Exclusion criteria: Down's syndrome, non-B lineage leukemia

Control group

children with other conditions
Selection:
- hospital-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- hospital
Exclusion criteria: leukemia, cancer, hematological diseases, allergies, acute infections and congenital malformations

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Contacted	364	505
Participants	297	412
Participation rate	81.6 %	81.5 %
Evaluable	290	407

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
SES of parents, housing characteristics (flooring material, type of residence)

)

Results (acc. to author)

In the present study, the proportion of children exposed to magnetic flux densities ≥0.3μT (14.4% of the cases and 11.3% of the controls) is among the highest reported worldwide.
The highest exposure category for each cutoff value was associated with an increased risk of B‐ALL compared with the corresponding reference groups thereof statistically significant results were observed for the category ≥0.4 μT (group 8: OR 1.87, CI 1.04-3.35) and the category ≥0.6 μT (group 14: OR 2.32, CI 1.10-4.93). Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields as a continuous variable (per 0.2 μT intervals) was associated with B‐ALL risk (OR 1.06, CI 1.01–1.12).
The authors conclude that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (evaluated as a continuous variable) was associated with a moderate risk for the children to develop B-ALL. Additionally, an exposure ≥0.4 μT may be associated with the risk of B‐ALL.

Limitations (acc. to author)

A 24‐h measurement may be inadequate to evaluate the effects of long‐term exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields.

Study funded by

Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT; National Council for Science and Technology), Mexico
Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Mexico

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