RF radiation-related cancer: assessing causation in the occupational/military setting

Abstract

RF radiation-related cancer: assessing causation in the occupational/military setting Peleg M, Nativ O, Richter ED. Radio frequency radiation-related cancer: assessing causation in the occupational/military setting. Environ Res. 2018 Feb 9;163:123-133. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.003. Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIM: We reexamine whether radio frequency radiation (RFR) in the occupational and military settings is a human carcinogen. METHODS: We extended an analysis of an already-reported case series of patients with cancer previously exposed to whole-body prolonged RFR, mainly from communication equipment and radar. We focused on hematolymphatic (HL) cancers. We used analysis by percentage frequency (PF) of a cancer type, which is the proportion of a specific cancer type relative to the total number of cancer cases. We also examined and analyzed the published data on three other cohort studies from similar military settings from different countries. RESULTS: The PF of HL cancers in the case series was very high, at 40% with only 23% expected for the series age and gender profile, confidence interval CI95%: 26-56%, p<0.01, 19 out of 47 patients had HL cancers. We also found high PF for multiple primaries. As for the three other cohort studies: In the Polish military sector, the PF of HL cancers was 36% in the exposed population as compared to 12% in the unexposed population, p<0.001. In a small group of employees exposed to RFR in Israeli defense industry, the PF of HL cancers was 60% versus 17% expected for the group age and gender profile, p<0.05. In Belgian radar battalions the HL PF was 8.3% versus 1.4% in the control battalions as shown in a causes of deaths study and HL cancer mortality rate ratio was 7.2 and statistically significant. Similar findings were reported on radio amateurs and Korean war technicians. Elevated risk ratios were previously reported in most of the above studies. CONCLUSIONS: The consistent association of RFR and highly elevated HL cancer risk in the four groups spread over three countries, operating different RFR equipment types and analyzed by different research protocols, suggests a cause-effect relationship between RFR and HL cancers in military/occupational settings. While complete measurements of RFR exposures were not available and rough exposure assessments from patients interviews and from partial exposure data were used instead, we have demonstrated increased HL cancers in occupational groups with relatively high RFR exposures. Our findings, combined with other studies, indicate that exposures incurred in the military settings evaluated here significantly increased the risk of HL cancers. Accordingly, the RFR military exposures in these occupations should be substantially reduced and further efforts should be undertaken to monitor and measure those exposures and to follow cohorts exposed to RFR for cancers and other health effects. Overall, the epidemiological studies on excess risk for HL and other cancers together with brain tumors in cellphone users and experimental studies on RFR and carcinogenicity make a coherent case for a cause-effect relationship and classifying RFR exposure as a human carcinogen (IARC group 1). ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Across an extended analysis of a previously reported case series and analyses of three other military/occupational cohort studies, the percentage frequency of hematolymphatic cancers was reported as elevated in exposed groups versus expected or unexposed comparisons (e.g., 19/47 HL cancers in the case series; higher PFs in Polish, Israeli, and Belgian military-related settings). The authors conclude the consistent association suggests a cause-effect relationship between occupational/military RFR exposure and HL cancers, while noting exposure measurements were incomplete and assessments were rough/partial.

Outcomes measured

• Hematolymphatic (HL) cancers
• Multiple primary cancers
• Cancer mortality (HL cancer mortality rate ratio in Belgian radar battalions)

Limitations

• Complete measurements of RFR exposures were not available
• Exposure assessment relied on patient interviews and partial exposure data
• Primary analysis uses percentage frequency of cancer types among cases (case series-based approach) rather than incidence in a defined population (as described)
• Some referenced findings are described as previously reported in other studies without detailed methods in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.95)
  Focuses on occupational/military RFR exposure and cancer outcomes.

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    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "occupational/military (communication equipment, radar)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "whole-body prolonged exposure (per case series description)"
    },
    "population": "Occupational/military groups (case series of cancer patients with prior RFR exposure; cohorts in Polish military sector, Israeli defense industry employees, Belgian radar battalions)",
    "sample_size": 47,
    "outcomes": [
        "Hematolymphatic (HL) cancers",
        "Multiple primary cancers",
        "Cancer mortality (HL cancer mortality rate ratio in Belgian radar battalions)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Across an extended analysis of a previously reported case series and analyses of three other military/occupational cohort studies, the percentage frequency of hematolymphatic cancers was reported as elevated in exposed groups versus expected or unexposed comparisons (e.g., 19/47 HL cancers in the case series; higher PFs in Polish, Israeli, and Belgian military-related settings). The authors conclude the consistent association suggests a cause-effect relationship between occupational/military RFR exposure and HL cancers, while noting exposure measurements were incomplete and assessments were rough/partial.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Complete measurements of RFR exposures were not available",
        "Exposure assessment relied on patient interviews and partial exposure data",
        "Primary analysis uses percentage frequency of cancer types among cases (case series-based approach) rather than incidence in a defined population (as described)",
        "Some referenced findings are described as previously reported in other studies without detailed methods in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "RFR",
        "occupational exposure",
        "military exposure",
        "radar",
        "communication equipment",
        "hematolymphatic cancer",
        "case series",
        "cohort studies",
        "cancer mortality",
        "IARC group 1"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
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            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Focuses on occupational/military RFR exposure and cancer outcomes."
        }
    ]
}

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