Magnetic Fields and Breast Cancer in Swedish Adults Residing near High-Voltage Power Lines

A case-control study to test the hypothesis that residential magnetic field exposures increase the incidence of breast cancer in Sweden based on people who had lived within 300 m of 220− or 400-kV power lines in Sweden at any time between 1960 and 1985 finds that magnetic field exposure is associated with breast cancer incidence.

Abstract

We report the results of a 5-year prospective cohort study of risk factors for fractures, including drinking fluoridated water, in a cohort of 3,216 men and women aged 65 years and older. We studied risk factors for hip fracture and fractures at other locations separately. We found a higher risk of hip fractures for subjects exposed to fluorine concentrations over 0.11 mg per liter but without a dose-effect relation (odds ratio (OR) = 3.25 for a concentration of 0.11-0.25 mg per liter; OR = 2.43 for > or = 0.25 mg per liter]. For higher thresholds (0.7 and 1 mg per liter), however, the OR was less than 1. We found no association between fluorine and non-hip fractures. Non-hip fractures were associated with polymedication rather than with specific drug use, whereas fracture was associated with polymedication and use of anxiolytic and antidepressive drugs. Subjects drinking spirits every day were more likely to have hip fractures. Tobacco consumption increased the risk for non-hip fractures.