Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and sex-differential risk of uveal melanoma.
Behrens T, Lynge E, Cree I, Sabroe S, Lutz JM, Afonso N, Eriksson M, Guénel P, Merletti F, Morales-Suarez-Varela M, Stengrevics A, Févotte J, Llopis-González A, Gorini G, Sharkova G, Hardell L, Ahrens W. · 2010
View Original AbstractWomen working near high-voltage electrical installations face nearly 6 times higher risk of rare eye cancer, especially those with dark eyes.
Plain English Summary
European researchers studied 293 people with uveal melanoma (a rare eye cancer) and 3,198 controls to examine whether workplace electromagnetic field exposure increases cancer risk. They found that women exposed to high-voltage electrical installations had nearly 6 times higher risk of developing this eye cancer, with the strongest effects seen in women with dark eyes. The study suggests that certain occupational EMF exposures may significantly increase eye cancer risk, particularly for women in electrical work environments.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to the growing body of research linking occupational EMF exposure to cancer risk. What makes these findings particularly significant is the dramatic risk increase - women exposed to electrical transmission installations showed a 481% higher risk of uveal melanoma. The fact that effects were strongest in dark-eyed women suggests biological mechanisms we're only beginning to understand. While uveal melanoma is rare, affecting about 5 people per million annually, this research highlights how certain populations may be especially vulnerable to EMF-related health effects. The reality is that many electrical workers face similar exposures daily, yet occupational safety standards for EMF remain largely focused on preventing immediate heating effects rather than long-term biological consequences. You don't have to work in high-voltage environments to benefit from this research - it demonstrates that EMF effects can be highly specific to certain populations and exposure scenarios, reinforcing why precautionary approaches matter for everyone.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The association between occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and the risk of uveal melanoma was investigated in a case-control study in nine European countries.
Incident cases of uveal melanoma and population as well as hospital controls were included and frequ...
293 patients with uveal melanoma and 3198 control subjects were interviewed. Women exposed to electr...
Although based on a low prevalence of exposure to potential occupational sources of EMF, our data indicate that exposed dark-eyed women may be at particular risk for uveal melanoma.
Show BibTeX
@article{t_2010_occupational_exposure_to_electromagnetic_1894,
author = {Behrens T and Lynge E and Cree I and Sabroe S and Lutz JM and Afonso N and Eriksson M and Guénel P and Merletti F and Morales-Suarez-Varela M and Stengrevics A and Févotte J and Llopis-González A and Gorini G and Sharkova G and Hardell L and Ahrens W.},
title = {Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and sex-differential risk of uveal melanoma.},
year = {2010},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20798011/},
}