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Extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure, electrical shocks and risk of Parkinson's disease.

No Effects Found

van der Mark M, Vermeulen R, Nijssen PC, Mulleners WM, Sas AM, van Laar T, Kromhout H, Huss A. · 2015

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This large case-control study found no link between ELF-MF exposure from electrical work or household sources and Parkinson's disease risk.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers studied 444 Parkinson's disease patients and 876 healthy controls to see if exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) from electrical occupations, household appliances, or electrical shocks increased Parkinson's risk. They found no association between any electrical exposures and Parkinson's disease development. In fact, most exposure categories showed slightly reduced risk estimates, though researchers concluded this likely doesn't represent true protection.

Study Details

Previous studies did not provide strong evidence for an increased Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk after exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), but were limited in their scope to address other exposures related to the use of electricity such as electrical shocks. We evaluated the associations of PD with exposure to ELF-MF, electrical shocks and having worked in “electrical occupations.”

We conducted a hospital-based case–control study, including 444 PD patients and 876 age- and sex-mat...

No association of PD risk with any of the evaluated exposures related to electricity was observed. W...

The results of this study suggest that no association exists between PD and exposure to ELF-MF, electrical shocks or having worked in “electrical occupations.”

Cite This Study
van der Mark M, Vermeulen R, Nijssen PC, Mulleners WM, Sas AM, van Laar T, Kromhout H, Huss A. (2015). Extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure, electrical shocks and risk of Parkinson's disease. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2015; 88, 227–234.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2015_extremely_lowfrequency_magnetic_field_2833,
  author = {van der Mark M and Vermeulen R and Nijssen PC and Mulleners WM and Sas AM and van Laar T and Kromhout H and Huss A.},
  title = {Extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure, electrical shocks and risk of Parkinson's disease. },
  year = {2015},
  doi = {10.1007/s00420-014-0949-2},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00420-014-0949-2},
}
DOI: 10.1007/s00420-014-0949-2

Cited By (17 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, electrical occupations do not increase Parkinson's disease risk. A 2015 study of 444 Parkinson's patients and 876 healthy controls found no association between working in electrical jobs and developing Parkinson's disease. Most exposure categories actually showed slightly reduced risk estimates.
Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields do not cause Parkinson's disease. Dutch researchers studied over 1,300 people and found no association between ELF-MF exposure from household appliances, electrical work, or power sources and Parkinson's development. The evidence suggests no causal relationship exists.
Electrical shocks do not increase Parkinson's disease risk. A comprehensive 2015 study examined electrical shock exposure history in Parkinson's patients versus healthy controls and found no association. Researchers concluded that electrical shocks pose no increased risk for developing Parkinson's disease.
Household appliances are not linked to Parkinson's disease development. Research analyzing EMF exposure from common household electrical devices found no association with Parkinson's risk. The study examined 444 Parkinson's patients and found appliance exposure did not increase disease likelihood.
EMF from power lines does not cause Parkinson's disease. A large-scale epidemiological study found no association between extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure from electrical infrastructure and Parkinson's development. The research actually showed slightly reduced risk estimates across most exposure categories.