8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body

Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Cancer & Tumors

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields exposure and female breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis based on 24,338 cases and 60,628 controls

No Effects Found

Authors not listed · 2010

Share:

Large-scale analysis of 84,000+ women finds no link between power line EMF and breast cancer risk.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This comprehensive meta-analysis examined 15 studies involving over 84,000 women to determine if extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (like those from power lines and appliances) increase breast cancer risk. The researchers found no significant association between ELF-EMF exposure and female breast cancer across all analyses. This large-scale review provides reassuring evidence that everyday EMF exposure from electrical sources does not appear to elevate breast cancer risk.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2010). Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields exposure and female breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis based on 24,338 cases and 60,628 controls.
Show BibTeX
@article{extremely_low_frequency_electromagnetic_fields_exposure_and_female_breast_cancer_risk_a_meta_analysis_based_on_24338_cases_and_60628_controls_ce1377,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields exposure and female breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis based on 24,338 cases and 60,628 controls},
  year = {2010},
  doi = {10.1007/s10549-010-0782-6},
  
}
DOI: 10.1007/s10549-010-0782-6PubMed: 20145992

Quick Questions About This Study

This meta-analysis of over 84,000 women found no increased breast cancer risk from extremely low-frequency EMF exposure, which includes power lines. The comprehensive review examined 15 studies and found no significant association across all exposure scenarios.
Based on this large-scale analysis, household appliances that emit extremely low-frequency EMF (50-60 Hz) do not appear to increase breast cancer risk. The study examined various exposure modes and found no significant associations with cancer development.
This meta-analysis included 24,338 breast cancer cases and 60,628 control subjects across 15 studies published between 2000-2009. This large sample size provides strong statistical power to detect meaningful associations if they existed.
The researchers examined breast cancer risk by estrogen receptor status and menopausal status but found no significant associations in any subgroup. This suggests ELF-EMF exposure doesn't preferentially affect specific breast cancer types or patient populations.
This 2010 meta-analysis confirms findings from an earlier 2000 meta-analysis by Erren, showing consistent results over time. The concordance between independent analyses strengthens confidence that ELF-EMF doesn't significantly impact breast cancer risk.