ID Number		236
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		Cancer (brain, breast, leukemia, etc) incidence in Norway.
Details		Human subjects (2,132 Norwegian female radio and telegraph operators between 1920 - 1980) exposed to RF (from 405 kHz to 25 MHz) were analyzed for breast cancer incidence. The transmitted power was ~1,500 W for all telegraphy except in the 1.6-3.6 MHz range where it was 400 W, resulting in a power density at the operator's desk of below the detection limit (about 20 V/m at all RF frequencies, 0.05 A/m at frequencies above 3 MHz and 0.15 A/m at lower frequencies). A significant elevation of all cancers, breast cancer, and uterine cancer cases was detected (OR = 1.2, 1.5 & 1.9 respectively) in the exposed group, as well as a nonsignificant elevation in rectal, uterine and renal cancer. By age categories, the 50-54 yr had the highest breast cancer risk (OR = 2.5), and no specific statistically significant correlations were seen for females under 50 yr of age, or for other cancers including leukemia and lymphoma. The authors concluded that these results indicate a possible association between work as a radio and telegraph operator and breast cancer, and suggested that future studies on breast cancer in females 50 yr or older should focus on possible disturbances of chronobiological parameters by environmental factors. In an earlier cohort study of 37,945 Norwegian male electrical workers, the rate of leukemia was associated with occupational exposure to RF, most notably with radio/telegraph repairmen (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.03-7.43). AUTHORS' ABSTRACT: Johannesen et al. 2004 (IEEE #6089): The aim of this study was to investigate trends in the incidence of childhood and adult brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors in Norway from 1970 through 1999. In this period, a total of 14,641 patients were diagnosed with a primary benign or malignant neoplasm of the brain and CNS. Age-adjusted incidence rates were reported together with results of loglinear regression and an age-period-cohort model based on the Poisson regression model. In children (<15 years), the proportion of brain and CNS tumors was 28.2% (1,042/3,697) of all new cancer cases compared with 2.8% in adults (13,599/492,237). The overall rate of brain and CNS tumors increased during the study period from 6.49 to 12.02 cases per 100,000 person-years. A trend of leveling off in incidence of most tumor categories during the study period was indicated with a possible continuing increase in the period 1995-1999, especially in the age group 0-4 years and in patients aged 60 years or more. Age and period together provided a satisfactory model in patients being <60 years of age and less completeness of diagnosis was found in males compared with females, possibly due to the distribution in males of more aggressive tumors.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		Radiation Protection Authority, Norway - tore.tynes@nrpa.no
Funding Agency		Private/Instit.
Country		NORWAY
References		Kliukiene, J et al. Eur J Cancer Prev, (2003) 12:301-307 Tynes, M et al. Cancer Causes Control, (1996) 7:197-204 Tynes, T et al. Am. J. Epidemiol., (1992) 136:81-88 Johannesen, TB et al. Neuroepidemiology., (2004) 23:101-109
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