Alfredsson L, Hammar N, Karlehagen S
Division of Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Cancer Causes Control. 1996 May;7(3):377-81. doi: 10.1007/BF00052944.
During recent years, the relationship between exposure to magnetic fields and cancer has attracted increasing interest. In Sweden, train personnel are exposed to comparatively strong magnetic fields in their work. The aim of the present study was to investigate cancer incidence, particularly leukemia and brain tumors, among male railway engine drivers and conductors, respectively, and to compare their cancer incidence with that of the general male population. The study population comprised all male railway engine drivers (n = 7,466) and conductors (n = 2,272) who were ever employed at the Swedish State Railways during the period 1976-90. The study population was observed with regard to cancer incidence by means of the National Cancer Register for the period 1976-90. The total cancer incidence (all tumors included) among railway engine drivers was lower than in the general Swedish population. An increased incidence of lymphocytic leukemia was observed among railway engine drivers and conductors combined (relative risk = 2.3; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.3-3.2), with the same point estimate for both occupational groups. For brain tumor (astrocytoma), the observed relative risk was close to one. The study provides evidence of an excess risk of lymphocytic leukemia in railway engine drivers and conductors, workers with known occupational exposure to magnetic fields.
近年来，接触磁场与癌症之间的关系已引起越来越多的关注。在瑞典，铁路工作人员在工作中会接触到相对较强的磁场。本研究的目的是分别调查男性铁路机车司机和列车员的癌症发病率，尤其是白血病和脑肿瘤，并将他们的癌症发病率与普通男性人群进行比较。研究人群包括1976年至1990年期间曾受雇于瑞典国家铁路公司的所有男性铁路机车司机（n = 7466）和列车员（n = 2272）。通过国家癌症登记处观察了1976年至1990年期间该研究人群的癌症发病率。铁路机车司机的总癌症发病率（包括所有肿瘤）低于瑞典普通人群。铁路机车司机和列车员的淋巴细胞白血病发病率有所增加（相对风险 = 2.3；95%置信区间 = 1.3 - 3.2），两个职业组的点估计值相同。对于脑肿瘤（星形细胞瘤），观察到的相对风险接近1。该研究提供了证据，表明在已知职业性接触磁场的铁路机车司机和列车员中，淋巴细胞白血病存在超额风险。
