A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia
Authors not listed · 2000
Children with residential magnetic field exposure ≥ 0.4 μT had a relative risk of 2.00 for leukemia, while those below 0.4 μT showed no increased risk.
Plain English Summary
Researchers conducted a pooled analysis based on individual records from nine studies. The analysis included 3203 children with leukaemia and 10 338 control children with estimated residential magnetic field exposures levels < 0.4 μT, and 44 children with leukaemia and 62 control children with exposures ≥ 0.4 μT. For exposures ≥ 0.4 μT the estimated summary relative risk was 2.00 (1.27–3.13), P value = 0.002, while for exposures < 0.4 μT risk estimates were near the no effect level. Adjustment for potential confounding variables did not appreciably change the results. No evidence was found for a wire-code paradox; the highest wire code category showed a relative risk of 1.24 (0.82–1.87).
Why This Matters
The analysis included studies with 24/48-hour magnetic field measurements or calculated magnetic fields. Researchers pre-specified the data analyses before starting the work. Using individual records allowed consistent exposure definitions and more precise risk estimation at high exposure levels. The elevated risk at ≥ 0.4 μT is unlikely due to random variability, but its explanation is unknown and selection bias may account for some increase.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_pooled_analysis_of_magnetic_fields_and_childhood_leukaemia_ce1541,
author = {Unknown},
title = {A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia},
year = {2000},
doi = {10.1054/bjoc.2000.1376},
}