Radiation literature survey

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This is a case-control study investigating whether occupational exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields is associated with brain tumours. In the study the occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields was compared between 3,761 cases of brain tumour (1,939 glioma, 1,822 meningioma) diagnosed between 2000‑2004 and 5,404 controls. Exposure to ELF magnetic fields was assessed using a job-exposure matrix (JEM). There was no association between lifetime cumulative ELF exposure and glioma or meningioma. However, there was a positive association between cumulative exposure to ELF magnetic fields 1‑4 years prior to the diagnosis date and glioma (odds ratio (OR) 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-2.07). The authors conclude that the results showed a positive association between occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields in the recent past and glioma.

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In 2002, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified ELF magnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol80/volume80.pdf). The classification was based on “limited” epidemiological evidence for an association between prolonged exposure to higher than normal residential ELF magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. However, this association is not supported by laboratory or animal studies and no credible theoretical mechanism has been proposed.

Subsequent to the IARC classification a number of epidemiological studies have investigated whether occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields is associated with adult cancers and in particular breast cancer, leukaemia and brain tumours. Results from these studies have been largely inconsistent. In 2007 the World Health Organization assessed the evidence and found that overall the evidence for an association between occupational exposure to ELF magnetic fields and cancer remains inadequate
(www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/Complet_DEC_2007.pdf).

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This case-control study investigated whether living close to high voltage power lines is associated with childhood cancer. The study compared the residential distance to high voltage power lines between 53,515 children diagnosed with cancer between 1962 and 2008 (the cases), and 66,204 matched controls. The risk for leukaemia when living within 200 m of a power line compared to living more than 1000 m away was higher in the 1960s (odds ratio, OR, 4.5, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.97 – 20.83) compared to the 2000s (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.49‑1.03). The authors conclude that the declining risk for childhood leukaemia over time is unlikely to arise from any physical effect of the power lines (such as exposure to electric and magnetic fields) and is more likely to be the result of changing population characteristics among those living near power lines.

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This in vivo study investigated whether exposure to RF EMF emitted by mobile phones affects auditory function by altering the neurotransmitter glycine. In the study rats were exposed to a 835 MHz RF signal at a specific absorption rate of 4 W/kg or sham for three months. The authors report differences in the glycine activity between the exposed and non-exposed rats which are indicative of auditory dysfunction.

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This is a report by researchers from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority about an RF measurement programme conducted in rural, urban and city areas of Sweden. Measurements were conducted from a moving car (travelling at no more than 30 km/h) and covered the frequency range used by broadcast television and radio services as well as mobile phone networks. The median power density was found to rise with increasing population density being 16 microwatts per square meter (µW/m²) in rural areas, 270 µW/m² for urban and 2400 µW/m² in the cities. All measurement values were found to be well below the general public exposure limits of the guidelines (PDF 526kb) published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. In each of the three settings the main contributor to RF exposures was found to be mobile phone base stations.

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This case-control study investigated the association between mobile phone use and brain tumours in adults. The study compared mobile phone use between 447 cases of brain tumour (253 glioma and 194 meningioma) that were diagnosed between 2004-2006 and 892 matched controls. There was no statistically significant association between regular phone use and brain tumour. However, the authors found statistically significant positive associations for heavy use, when considering life-long cumulative call duration of more than 896 hours (odds ratio, OR=2.89; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.41 to 5.93 for glioma and OR=2.57; 95% CI 1.02 to 6.44 for meningioma), and when considering more than 18,360 number of calls for glioma (OR=2.10; 95% CI 1.03 to 4.31). The authors conclude that these results support other findings concerning a possible association between heavy mobile phone use and brain tumours.

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The INTERPHONE project, which is coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), is a multi-national series of case-control studies (from 13 different countries including Australia) testing whether using mobile phones is associated with an increased risk of various cancers in the head and neck. The INTERPHONE studies were conducted using the same methods to enable the data to be pooled for analysis.

A pooled analysis of the INTERPHONE studies for malignant brain tumours (glioma and meningioma) showed no overall association (INTERPHONE Study Group, 2010 (PDF 187kb). There were suggestions of an association (most pronounced for glioma) in the group representing individuals with the highest cumulative call time. The authors note that limitations of the methodology prevent conclusions of causality being drawn from these observations.

In May 2011 IARC assessed the possible carcinogenicity of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). Based on positive associations found in INTERPHONE and some other epidemiological studies between glioma and acoustic neuroma and exposure to RF-EMF from wireless phones (mobile and cordless phones) IARC has classified RF EMF as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (also known as Group 2B carcinogen) (see June 2011 report). The classification by IARC does not provide estimates of what risk of cancer might by posed by any given level of exposure to RF fields. An assessment of this and other possible health effects is currently being conducted by the World Health Organization.

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This review describes the epidemiological evidence on glioma including the incidence of the disease and possible risk factors. Glioblastoma, the most common type of glioma has an age-adjusted incidence rate in Australia of 3.4 annual cases per 100,000 people. Exposure to high levels of ionising radiation has been shown to increase the risk of glioma. The authors mention that the potential influence of mobile phone use has also been examined with inconclusive results.

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This is a review of epidemiological studies investigating the use of mobile phones and brain cancer risk in children. The authors mention that only limited data exists on children from only one multi-centre case-control study and some ecological studies investigating trends in brain tumour incidence rates. The authors conclude that despite a steep increase in mobile phone use among children and adolescents during the last decade, overall the available findings do not suggest an increased brain tumour risk in children using mobile phones.

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This is a systematic review that includes meta-analyses of in vitro, in vivo and human provocation studies investigating mobile phone use and semen quality. The systemic review showed that results of most of the human studies and in vitro laboratory studies indicated mobile phone RF exposure had negative effects on the various semen parameters studied. However, meta-analysis indicated that mobile phone use had no adverse effects on semen parameters in human studies. In the in vitro studies, meta-analysis indicated that exposure to mobile phone RF fields affected sperm motility and viability. In the in vivo studies, RF exposure affected sperm concentration and motility. The authors conclude that the evidence from current studies suggests potential harmful effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters.

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This cross-sectional study investigated whether using a mobile phone is associated with biochemical changes to the saliva produced by the parotid glands. In the study saliva samples were taken from 62 individuals who use a mobile phone. A comparison of biochemical changes was made between the saliva from the gland on the side where the phone is normally used (ipsilateral) to the saliva from the opposite parotid gland (contralateral) of each individual. There were no statistically significant differences in biochemical parameters between the saliva samples taken from the ipsilateral and contralateral parotid glands. Using a phone for more than 3 hours per month or for more than 10 years did not have an effect. The authors conclude that using a mobile phone does not affect the saliva produced by the parotid gland.

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This is a report by a Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel reviewing the scientific evidence related to Canada’s safety code (PDF 670kb) on human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields. The Expert Panel concludes that the current balance of evidence does not indicate negative health effects from exposure to RF fields below the limits recommended in the safety code. However, the Expert Panel notes that research on many of the health effects is ongoing and it is possible that the findings of future studies may alter this balance of evidence. The Expert Panel recommends that health authorities should continue to monitor the literature for emerging evidence and particularly pursue scientific research aimed at cancer and electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

A review of Safety Code 6 (2013): Health Canada's safety limits for exposure to radiofrequency fields

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ARPANSA published the RF exposure Standard, Radiation Protection Standard for Maximum Exposure Levels to Radiofrequency Fields – 3 kHz to 300 GHz in 2002. Since the publication of the Standard, research in the area of RF and health has grown rapidly and several major research programs and reviews have been undertaken internationally.

ARPANSA established an independent Expert Panel with the task of making an assessment of the scientific literature published since the Standard was prepared. The ARPANSA Radiofrequency Expert Panel on Review of Radiofrequency Health Effects Research – Scientific Literature 2000–2012 was published on 14 March 2014. The Expert Panel concluded that the science behind the ARPANSA RF Standard remains sound and that the exposure limits in the Standard continue to provide a high degree of protection against the known health effects of RF electromagnetic fields.

ARPANSA will review and update the Standard to take account of increased knowledge and to maintain alignment with revised international guidance.