Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.
Breast cancer, occupation, and exposure to electromagnetic fields among Swedish men
No Effects Found
Authors not listed · 2001
Swedish workers exposed to workplace EMF above 0.12 microtesla showed 31% higher male breast cancer rates.
Plain English Summary
Summary written for general audiences
Swedish researchers tracked 25,000+ male workers from 1971-1989 to investigate whether occupational electromagnetic field exposure increases breast cancer risk in men. They found machinery repairers had consistently elevated risk, while workers exposed to EMF levels above 0.12 microtesla showed a 31% increased risk. The study suggests intermittent high-variation EMF exposure patterns may pose greater risk than steady exposure.
Cite This Study
Unknown (2001). Breast cancer, occupation, and exposure to electromagnetic fields among Swedish men.
Show BibTeX
@article{breast_cancer_occupation_and_exposure_to_electromagnetic_fields_among_swedish_men_ce1534,
author = {Unknown},
title = {Breast cancer, occupation, and exposure to electromagnetic fields among Swedish men},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1002/1097-0274(200103)39:3<276::AID-AJIM1015>3.0.CO;2-B},
}Quick Questions About This Study
This Swedish study found a 31% increased breast cancer risk among male workers exposed to electromagnetic fields above 0.12 microtesla, with machinery repairers showing consistently elevated risk across the 18-year study period.
Workers exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields above 0.12 microtesla showed increased breast cancer risk. This threshold is commonly exceeded by household appliances like hair dryers and electric blankets.
Male breast cancer research eliminates hormonal confounding factors that complicate studies in women, providing clearer insight into environmental and occupational risk factors like electromagnetic field exposure.
The study found stronger evidence for increased risk among workers with intermittent EMF exposure patterns, suggesting that variable exposure throughout the workday may be more harmful than steady exposure.
Machinery repairers showed the most consistent elevated risk. Other affected occupations included librarians, bank employees, metal processing workers, and policemen, though these were based on fewer cases.