Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and sex-differential risk of uveal melanoma

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 67; no. 11; pp. 751 - 759
• Main Authors: Behrens, Thomas, Lynge, Elsebeth, Cree, Ian, Sabroe, Svend, Lutz, Jean-Michel, Afonso, Noemia, Eriksson, Mikael, Guénel, Pascal, Merletti, Franco, Morales-Suarez-Varela, Maria, Stengrevics, Aivars, Févotte, Joëlle, Llopis-González, Agustin, Gorini, Giuseppe, Sharkova, Galina, Hardell, Lennart, Ahrens, Wolfgang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.11.2010; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Age groups; Aged; Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin; Biological and medical sciences; cancer; Classification; Colorectal cancer; Electrical transmission; Electromagnetic fields; Electromagnetic Fields - adverse effects; Electromagnetism; Electromotive forces; Employment; Environmental Health and Occupational Health; Epidemiologic Methods; Epidemiology; Europe - epidemiology; Exposure; Eye Color; Eyes; Female; Health Sciences; Humans; Hälsovetenskap; Interviews; Machinery; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical research; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Melanoma; Melanoma - epidemiology; Melanoma - etiology; Men; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - epidemiology; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - etiology; non-ionising radiation; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational Health and Environmental Health; Occupations; Ophthalmology; Population; Power lines; Questionnaires; Recruitment; retrospective exposure assessment; Tumors; Tumors and pseudotumors of the eye, orbit, eyelid, lacrimal apparatus; Uveal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Uveal Neoplasms - etiology; Workplace; Europe; Germany; Sweden; Latvia; United Kingdom > UK; Denmark; Italy; France; Portugal; Spain; Human; Iris (eye); Color; Sex; Uvea disease; Malignant tumor; Occupational exposure; Epidemiology; Uveal malignant melanoma; Eye disease; Risk factor; Electromagnetic field; Woman; Occupational medicine; Cancer
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.2009.052225

ObjectivesThe 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.MethodsIncident cases of uveal melanoma and population as well as hospital controls were included and frequency matched by country, 5-year birth cohort and sex. Subjects were asked whether they had worked close to high-voltage electrical transmission installations, computer screens and various electrical machines, or in complex electrical environments. Measurements of two Scandinavian job–exposure matrices were applied to estimate lifelong cumulative EMF exposure. Unconditional logistic regression analyses, stratified by sex and eye colour were calculated, adjusting for several potential confounders.Results293 patients with uveal melanoma and 3198 control subjects were interviewed. Women exposed to electrical transmission installations showed elevated risks (OR 5.81, 95% CI 1.72 to 19.66). Positive associations with exposure to control rooms were seen among men and women, but most risk increases were restricted to subjects with dark iris colour. Application of published EMF measurements revealed stronger risk increases among women compared to men. Again, elevated risks were restricted to subjects with dark eye colour.ConclusionAlthough 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.