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Mortality of plastic-ware workers exposed to radiofrequencies.

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Lagorio S, Rossi S, Vecchia P, De Santis M, Bastianini L, Fusilli M, Ferrucci A, Desideri E, Comba P, · 1997

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Thirty-year study of plastic workers found elevated cancer deaths, especially leukemia, among those exposed to radiofrequency radiation from industrial equipment.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers tracked the health outcomes of 481 Italian women who worked with radiofrequency-emitting heat sealing equipment in plastic manufacturing from 1962 to 1992. They found elevated rates of cancer deaths, particularly leukemia, among workers in the sealing department where RF exposure occurred compared to other areas of the factory. While the study couldn't rule out other workplace chemicals as contributing factors, it suggests a potential link between occupational RF exposure and increased cancer risk.

Why This Matters

This 30-year occupational study provides important evidence in the EMF-cancer debate, particularly because it examines real-world workplace exposures over decades rather than short-term laboratory conditions. The finding of elevated cancer mortality, especially leukemia, among workers directly exposed to radiofrequency radiation aligns with other occupational studies showing increased cancer risks in RF-exposed populations. While the researchers appropriately noted study limitations including small sample size and potential chemical confounders, the dose-response relationship they observed (higher cancer rates specifically in the high-exposure sealing department) strengthens the biological plausibility of RF-cancer associations. What makes this study particularly relevant today is that the RF frequencies used in industrial heat sealing overlap with those used in modern wireless technologies, though at different power levels and exposure patterns.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

The mortality experience of a cohort of Italian plastic-ware workers exposed to radiofrequency (RF)-electromagnetic fields generated by dielectric heat sealers was investigated.

Follow-up extended from 1962 to 1992. The standardised mortality ratio (SMR) analysis was restricted...

representing 78% of the total person-years at risk. Mortality from malignant neoplasms was slightly ...

Cite This Study
Lagorio S, Rossi S, Vecchia P, De Santis M, Bastianini L, Fusilli M, Ferrucci A, Desideri E, Comba P, (1997). Mortality of plastic-ware workers exposed to radiofrequencies. Bioelectromagnetics 18(6):418-421, 1997.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_1997_mortality_of_plasticware_workers_2327,
  author = {Lagorio S and Rossi S and Vecchia P and De Santis M and Bastianini L and Fusilli M and Ferrucci A and Desideri E and Comba P and},
  title = {Mortality of plastic-ware workers exposed to radiofrequencies.},
  year = {1997},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9261538/},
}
PubMed: 9261538

Cited By (43 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

A 1997 Italian study found elevated cancer deaths, particularly leukemia, among women who worked with radiofrequency heat-sealing equipment for 30 years. However, researchers couldn't rule out other workplace chemicals as contributing factors, so the link remains uncertain.
Research on 481 Italian factory workers suggests potential cancer risks from occupational RF exposure, with higher death rates in departments using RF equipment. The study had limitations and couldn't exclude other chemical exposures as causes.
A long-term study of plastic factory workers found increased cancer deaths among those operating RF heat-sealing machines compared to other departments. While concerning, the small study size and possible chemical exposures limit definitive conclusions.
Italian researchers documented elevated leukemia deaths among women exposed to radiofrequency radiation at work over three decades. The study suggests a possible link but acknowledges that workplace solvents could also contribute to increased risk.
A 30-year study tracking 481 female workers found higher overall cancer mortality in RF-exposed departments, particularly leukemia cases. Researchers called for larger studies with better exposure assessment to confirm these preliminary findings.