A case-control study was conducted in the USA to investigate whether the risk of breast cancer is associated with exposure to residential magnetic fields.
Magnetic field exposure was assessed by 48-h measurements in the home at diagnosis, wiring configurations of all homes occupied 10 years prior diagnosis, and self-reported use of electric house-hold appliances.
| Group | Description |
|---|---|
| Reference group 1 | mean nighttime magnetic field: < 0.020 µT |
| Group 2 | mean nighttime magnetic field: 0.020 - 0.037 µT |
| Group 3 | mean nighttime magnetic field: 0.037 - 0.073 µT |
| Group 4 | mean nighttime magnetic field: ≥ 0.073 µT |
| Reference group 5 | any measurements ≥ 0.2 µT: no |
| Group 6 | any measurements ≥ 0.2 µT: yes |
| Reference group 7 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, current residence: very low current configuration (VLCC) |
| Group 8 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, current residence: underground |
| Group 9 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, current residence: ordinary low current configuration (OLCC) |
| Group 10 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, current residence: ordinary high current configuration (OHCC) |
| Group 11 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, current residence: very high current configuration (VHCC) |
| Reference group 12 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 5-year category: very low current configuration (VLCC) |
| Group 13 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 5-year category: underground |
| Group 14 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 5-year category: ordinary low current configuration (OLCC) |
| Group 15 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 5-year category: ordinary high current configuration (OHCC) |
| Group 16 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 5-year category: very high current configuration (VHCC) |
| Reference group 17 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 10-year category:: very low current configuration (VLCC) |
| Group 18 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 10-year category: underground |
| Group 19 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 10-year category: ordinary low current configuration (OLCC) |
| Group 20 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 10-year category: ordinary high current configuration (OHCC) |
| Group 21 | Wertheimer-Leeper scheme, 10-year category: very high current configuration (VHCC) |
| Reference group 22 | all household appliances, in 10 years prior diagnosis: < 0.0062 T |
| Group 23 | all household appliances, in 10 years prior diagnosis: 0.0062 - 0.0105 T |
| Group 24 | all household appliances, in 10 years prior diagnosis: 0.0105 - 0.0171T |
| Group 25 | all household appliances, in 10 years prior diagnosis: ≥ 0.0171 T |
| Reference group 26 | bed-warming appliances, ever use: no |
| Group 27 | bed-warming appliances, ever use: yes |
| Reference group 28 | use of bed-warming appliances: 0 hours |
| Group 29 | use of bed-warming appliances: < 511 hours |
| Group 30 | use of bed-warming appliances: 511 - 1217 hours |
| Group 31 | use of bed-warming appliances: 1217 - 2149 hours |
| Reference group 32 | use of bed-warming appliances: ≥ 2149 hours |
| Cases | Controls | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | 1,039 | 1,053 |
| Participants | 813 | 793 |
| Participation rate | 78 % | 75 % |
More than 90 % of cases and controls had mean nighttime magnetic field levels of less than 0.16 µT.
No increased risk of breast cancer was found with measures of nighttime bedroom magnetic fields, with the wire code configuration of the home at diagnosis or weighted summary measures of wire codes of all homes occupied 10 years prior diagnosis, and self-reported use household electric appliances, including bed-warming devices.
The results of the study do not support the hypothesis that exposure to residential magnetic fields is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
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