Pira E, Zanetti C, Saia B
Dipartimento di Traumatologia Ortopedia e Medicina del Lavoro Università degli Studi di Torino.
Med Lav. 1994 Nov-Dec;85(6):447-62.
This paper summarizes the published literature and current problems relating to possible cancerogenic effects of occupational and residential exposure to ELF electromagnetic fields at levels slightly above ambient background. There are several suggestions that such an exposure may increase the risk of cancer, but these studies failed to provide conclusive indications. The present state of uncertainty led to a variety of recommendations and statements being made concerning restrictions to the exposure of people to ELF electromagnetic fields. Attempts to detect direct chromosomal damage from ELF electromagnetic fields have proven negative, while results on cancer promotion have been controversial. On the basis of several epidemiological studies on occupational exposure, an increased risk of leukemia, brain cancer and male breast cancer is apparent; the literature on residential exposure provides some evidence of an effect on childhood cancer, especially leukemia; however, when interpreting these results some major methodological concerns should be kept in mind. In conclusion, the public concern and potential public health impact of this environmental agent argue strongly for addressing further research in order to identify mechanisms of action on biological systems, to define the proper assessment of exposure and to obtain good epidemiological evidence.
本文总结了已发表的文献以及与职业和居住环境中暴露于略高于环境本底水平的极低频电磁场可能产生的致癌效应相关的当前问题。有多项研究表明这种暴露可能会增加患癌风险，但这些研究未能提供确凿的证据。目前的不确定性导致了关于限制人们暴露于极低频电磁场的各种建议和声明。试图检测极低频电磁场导致的直接染色体损伤的研究结果为阴性，而关于其促癌作用的结果一直存在争议。基于多项关于职业暴露的流行病学研究，白血病、脑癌和男性乳腺癌的患病风险明显增加；关于居住环境暴露的文献提供了一些证据，表明其对儿童癌症，尤其是白血病有影响；然而，在解释这些结果时，应牢记一些主要的方法学问题。总之，公众对这种环境因素的关注以及其对公众健康的潜在影响有力地表明有必要开展进一步研究，以确定其对生物系统的作用机制，明确对暴露的恰当评估，并获得可靠的流行病学证据。
