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Uncertainty in Risk Assessment, Risk Management, and Decision Making pp 251–264Cite as

Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields and Brain Tumors

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Part of the book series: Advances in Risk Analysis ((AIRA,volume 4))

Abstract

An epidemiologic study was conducted on occupation and industry entries listed on the death certificates of 951 adult white male Maryland residents who died from brain tumor between 1969 and 1982. Compared to controls who were matched with the cases on age and date of deaths and who died of causes other than malignancy, a significantly higher proportion of primary brain tumor persons (gliomas and astrocytomas) was found to have been employed in electrical occupations such as electrician, electric or electronic engineer, and utility company serviceman. To further explore the relationship, the occupations of cases and controls were grouped according to a level of potential job exposure to electromagnetic (E-M) fields i.e., definite, probable, possible and no exposure. An increase in the odds ratio for brain tumor was found to be positively related to potential E-M exposure levels. Furthermore, the mean age at death was found significantly younger among the cases in the presumed definite E-M exposure group than those with no apparent E-M exposure group. Similar findings of an increase of brain tumors in electrical workers have been reported elsewhere. These findings suggest that E-M exposure may be associated with the pathogenesis of brain tumors, particularly in the promoting stage.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA

    Ruey S. Lin, Patricia C. Dischinger & Katherine Farrell

Authors
  1. Ruey S. Lin
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  2. Patricia C. Dischinger
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  3. Katherine Farrell
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., USA

    Vincent T. Covello

  2. Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Lester B. Lave

  3. Institute for Regulatory Science, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

    Alan Moghissi

  4. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

    V. R. R. Uppuluri

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© 1987 Plenum Press, New York

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Lin, R.S., Dischinger, P.C., Farrell, K. (1987). Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields and Brain Tumors. In: Covello, V.T., Lave, L.B., Moghissi, A., Uppuluri, V.R.R. (eds) Uncertainty in Risk Assessment, Risk Management, and Decision Making. Advances in Risk Analysis, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5317-1_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5317-1_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5319-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5317-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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