ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

By: Reid A, Glass DC, Bailey HD, Milne E, de Klerk NH, Downie P, Fritschi L
Published in: Br J Cancer 2011: in press

This is an Australian case-control study that investigated whether parental exposure during work to extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF) is associated with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in children (aged less than 15 years). The study included 379 case and 854 control mothers and 328 case and 748 control fathers which completed a work history in order to determine their occupational ELF EMF exposure. There was no association between maternal (odds ratio, OR=0.96; 95% confidence interval, CI=0.74-1.25) or paternal (OR=0.78; 95% CI=0.56-1.09) exposure to ELF EMF and risk of childhood ALL. The authors conclude that there was no increased risk of ALL in offspring of parents with occupational exposure to ELF EMF.

PUBMED LINK

There have been a limited number of studies on parental occupational exposure to ELF EMF and childhood leukaemia and these have been methodologically weak and have shown inconsistent results. In 2002 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed all the available evidence in relation to ELF EMF and cancer. Based on the “limited” association between ELF magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia found in epidemiological studies and “inadequate” evidence in animal experiments, IARC classified ELF magnetic fields as a “possible human carcinogen”. (http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol80/mono80.pdf)

In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed the evidence in an Environmental Health Criteria Monograph by focusing mainly on studies published after the IARC review. The WHO concluded that new studies do not change the overall classification of ELF magnetic fields as a possible human carcinogen. (http://www.who.int/entity/peh-emf/publications/Complet_DEC_2007.pdf)

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By: Lagroye I, et al
Published in: Prog Biophys Mol Biol 2011: in press

This is an update of the animal studies investigating exposure to ELF EMF and teratological and carcinogenic effects as well as mechanisms of action for these effects. The authors conclude that animal studies have not established any adverse developmental effects and have provided limited support for childhood leukaemia. Moreover, the authors note that there are no generally accepted mechanisms that could explain carcinogenic effects at low-level exposures.

PUBMED LINK

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By: Marino C, et al
Published in: Prog Biophys Mol Biol 2011: in press

This is a review of cellular and animal studies investigating whether young people could be more sensitive to radiofrequency (RF) fields than adults. The authors note that relatively few in vitro or animal studies have examined this topic. They conclude that overall the results do not suggest that the RF has a greater affect on the young compared to adults. [ARPANSA Note: This study does not address the issue of whether parts of a child’s body may be more highly exposed, or absorb more RF energy, than those of an adult.]

PUBMED LINK

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By: Agarwal A, et al
Published in:Int Braz J Urol 2011; 37 (4): 432 - 454

This is a review of studies investigating RF exposure from mobile phones and male infertility. The authors note that the results from the studies are mixed and this is due to the lack of a standardised procedure for measuring effects on male infertility parameters. The authors recommend that study design, ethics, and reproducibility in future research in this area must be standardised.

PUBMED LINK

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By: Latin America Science Review Expert Panel
Published in:Instituto EduMed 2010: 1 - 186

This is a review of the research into RF fields and health and it includes social issues and public communication as well as standards and policies.

Full paper

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By: HPA
Published in: HPA 2010: 1 - 5

This is a fact sheet by the Health Protection Agency in the UK on mobile phones and health.

Full Fact-sheet

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By: NRL New Zealand
Published in:NRL Information Sheets 2011(21): 1 - 2

The fact sheet is available from http://www.nrl.moh.govt.nz/publications/is21.pdf.

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