Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.
Reid A et al, (October 2011) Risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following parental occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, Br J Cancer. 2011 Oct 25;105(9):1409-13. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2011.365
No Effects Found
Authors not listed · 2011
Large Australian study found no increased childhood leukemia risk from parental workplace EMF exposure.
Plain English Summary
Summary written for general audiences
Australian researchers studied 379 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 854 healthy controls to examine whether parental workplace exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (like from power lines) increased childhood leukemia risk. They found no association between either mother's or father's occupational EMF exposure and their children developing this blood cancer.
Cite This Study
Unknown (2011). Reid A et al, (October 2011) Risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following parental occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, Br J Cancer. 2011 Oct 25;105(9):1409-13. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2011.365.
Show BibTeX
@article{reid_a_et_al_october_2011_risk_of_childhood_acute_lymphoblastic_leukaemia_following_parental_occupational_exposure_to_extremely_low_frequency_electromagnetic_fields_br_j_cancer_2011_oct_2510591409_13_ce1336,
author = {Unknown},
title = {Reid A et al, (October 2011) Risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following parental occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, Br J Cancer. 2011 Oct 25;105(9):1409-13. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2011.365},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1038/bjc.2011.365},
}Quick Questions About This Study
This Australian study of 379 leukemia cases found no increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children whose parents had occupational extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure before or after birth.
Researchers analyzed 379 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 854 healthy controls, along with detailed occupational histories from 707 mothers and 1,076 fathers across both groups.
Scientists looked at parental occupational EMF exposure during multiple time windows: any time before the child's birth, jobs 2 years before birth, 1 year before birth, and up to 1 year after birth.
The study found no increased leukemia risk from either maternal or paternal occupational EMF exposure, with odds ratios of 0.96 for mothers and 0.78 for fathers, both showing no significant association.
Earlier studies reported moderate increases in childhood leukemia risk from maternal EMF exposure, while this larger Australian study found no association, reflecting the mixed and evolving nature of EMF health research.