ID Number		228
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		Radar exposure of naval personnel and cancer incidence.
Details		Human subjects who served during the Korean War (1950-1954) including 20,781 with minimum MW exposure (radiomen, radarmen, aviation electrician's mates) and 20,109 with maximum MW exposure (electronics technicians, fire control technicians, aviation electronics technicians) were examined for cancer mortality. Individuals were classified in one of four exposure groups. Total mortality and tumor mortality rates were not significantly elevated (OR = 1.04, CI 0.9-1.3), although there was a trend towards an elevation in the highest exposure group. Lung cancer was elevated in the highest exposure group (OR = 2.2), but it was not clear that this was a result of RF exposure. No significant increase in leukemia or lymphoma was observed, although again there was a slight trend. In a subsequent follow-up analysis reported in 2002, mortality from all diseases, all cancers, brain cancer (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 - 1.0), and testicular cancer was still significantly below expectation in the highest MW exposure group. Nonlymphocytic leukemia, however, was significantly elevated, but only in one of the high exposure level occupations (electronics technicians in aviation squadrons; OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.3 - 3.7). The authors conclude radar exposure had little effect on mortality in the cohort of US Navy veterans.
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		National Research Council, Washington DC, USA
Funding Agency		NIH, USA
Country		UNITED STATES
References		Groves, FG et al. Am. J. Epidemiol, (2002) 155:810-818 Robinette, CD et al. Am. J. Epidemiol., (1980) 112:39-53 Robinette, CD Am. J. Epidemiol., (1981) 113:201-202 Robinette, CD et al. Symposium on Biological Effects and Measurement of Radio Frequency/Microwaves. D.G. Hazzard, editor. HEW Publication (FDA) 77-8026., (1977) :338-344 Santana, VS et al. Int J Occup Environ Health., (1999) 5:88-94
Comments		Robinette's reponse to a critisizm from Morton is in Am. J. Epidemiol. (1981) 113:201-202. It is interesting that the latest re-analysis of the original Robinette data of Korean war veterans by Grove (Am J Epidemiol (2002)155:810-818), reports a marginal increase in nonlymphoblastic lymphoma in one of the high exposure groups similar to what was found in the PIM-1 mice by Repacholi (Radiation Research (1997) 147(5):631-640), although Grove et al did not conclude these findings necessarily indicated a causative association (the magnitude of effect was small, and it was very likely just variability in the data as many tumor types were analyzed with absolutely no effect).