Reexamining Biological Studies of Effect of Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure on Cells in Culture [Health Effects]

The first study on health effects of power line fields, published in 1979, suggested that long-term exposure to residential 50/60 Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) may be associated with the risk of childhood leukemia [1]. A large number of epidemiological studies have been completed since then worldwide. Results were evaluated in two pooled analyses [2], [3], which showed that an excess risk may exist for average exposures exceeding 0.3?0.4 4 nT. The authors cautioned that it is unclear whether the results of their analyses can be interpreted as showing a causal relationship between magnetic fields and childhood leukemia.