Residential magnetic fields, light-at-night, and nocturnal urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentration in women
Authors not listed · 2001
Higher bedroom magnetic field levels were associated with significantly lower nocturnal urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentration, particularly in women using certain medications and during periods with fewer hours of darkness.
Plain English Summary
Each woman provided data over a 72-hour period in two different seasons, including bedroom magnetic field and ambient light measured every 30 seconds, personal magnetic field measured at 30-second intervals, and complete nighttime urine samples on three consecutive nights. Lower nocturnal urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels were associated with more hours of daylight, older age, higher body mass index, current alcohol consumption, and current use of beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or psychotropics. After adjusting for these factors, higher bedroom magnetic field levels were associated with significantly lower urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentration during the same night, primarily in women using those medications and during times of year with the fewest hours of darkness.
Why This Matters
The researchers hypothesized that exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields may increase breast cancer risk by suppressing the normal nocturnal rise in melatonin. They concluded that the results suggest nighttime residential 60-Hz magnetic fields can depress the normal nocturnal rise in melatonin.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{residential_magnetic_fields_light_at_night_and_nocturnal_urinary_6_sulfatoxymelatonin_concentration_in_women_ce1519,
author = {Unknown},
title = {Residential magnetic fields, light-at-night, and nocturnal urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentration in women},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1093/AJE/154.7.591},
}