Authored By:
Sorahan TMSummary:
This was a cohort study investigating the incidence of cancer among 83,284 UK electricity generation and transmission workers from 1973 to 2015. Electricity generation and transmission workers are often exposed to higher than normal levels of extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF) The study found statistically significant increases in the occurrence of mesothelioma and skin cancer and a statistically significant decrease in the occurrence of lung cancer. The author indicated that the increase in mesothelioma and skin cancer in the cohort could be explained by the past use of asbestos in the industry and the prevalence of outdoor work, respectively. Further, the author speculated that the reduction in lung cancer was due to a decrease of smokers in the industry; however, there was no smoking data collected from the cohort. The author concluded that the results support the need for protection of workers from asbestos and solar UV exposure. Further, the author states that the results suggest that the current protections for EMF exposure are adequate.
Published In:
Occupational Medicine, Volume 69, Issue 5, July 2019, Pages 342–351There have been numerous previous studies that have investigated whether occupational exposure to ELF EMF causes cancer and especially breast cancer. In 2007, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reviewed in detail the risk of cancer from occupational exposure to ELF EMF. The review concluded no established evidence between occupational ELF EMF exposure and breast cancer or other cancers. This conclusion from WHO is in agreement with outcomes from the UK electricity generation and transmission workers cohort with Sorahan stating that of the 11 papers that have been previously published on this cohort no convincing links between magnetic fields and the examined health outcomes have been found. Two Australian studies by Karipidis et al (2007a and 2007b) reported no increased risk of glioma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma from workers exposed to ELF EMF.
The current study by Sorahan also showed the importance of protecting workers from the harmful effects of the sun. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer. Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70 and more than 2000 Australians die from skin cancer each year (Cancer Council Australia, 2019). Occupational exposure can significantly contribute to these rates with a meta-analysis by Schmitt et al 2011 finding that people who were occupationally exposed to UV had an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma. To protect workers from the consequences of high UV exposure, each Australian State or Territory has an occupational health and safety act that sets requirements for the protection of outdoor workers from solar UV.
