Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields during pregnancy and the risk of spontaneous abortion: a case-control study.

PAPER pubmed Journal of research in health sciences 2013 Case-control study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → PMID: 24077469 Evidence Lab

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields is increasingly common, but the potential influence on pregnant women has not been thoroughly investigated. METHODS: In this case-control study, 58 women who had an unexplained spontaneous abortion at < 14 weeks gestation and 58 matched pregnant women >14 weeks gestation were enrolled in 2012. The women completed the questionnaire, which was used to collect data about socioeconomic and obstetric characteristics, medical and reproductive histories. Then, to evaluate the extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields , we determined the magnitude of electromagnetic fields in the participants' houses by an exposure level tester (3D EMF tester/ Model: ELF-828; Taiwan).The instrument covers a limited frequency range (30 HZ to 3 KHZ). RESULTS: The magnitude of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in the participants' houses was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields exposure is probably related to early spontaneous abortions.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Case-control study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Pregnant women (cases: unexplained spontaneous abortion <14 weeks gestation; controls: matched pregnant women >14 weeks gestation)

Sample size

116

Exposure

ELF residential (in-home)

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Measured in-home extremely low frequency electromagnetic field magnitude differed significantly between women with unexplained spontaneous abortion <14 weeks and matched pregnant controls >14 weeks (P<0.001). The authors conclude ELF-EMF exposure is probably related to early spontaneous abortions.

Outcomes measured

Spontaneous abortion (early, <14 weeks gestation)

Limitations

Case-control design (cannot establish causality)
Exposure assessment limited to measured in-home ELF field magnitude; other exposure sources not described
Instrument frequency range limited to 30 Hz to 3 kHz
Exposure metric details (e.g., timing during pregnancy, measurement duration, units) not reported in abstract
Potential confounding not described in abstract

Suggested hubs

elf-pregnancy (0.9)
Examines ELF electromagnetic field exposure during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "case_control",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "residential (in-home)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Pregnant women (cases: unexplained spontaneous abortion <14 weeks gestation; controls: matched pregnant women >14 weeks gestation)",
    "sample_size": 116,
    "outcomes": [
        "Spontaneous abortion (early, <14 weeks gestation)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Measured in-home extremely low frequency electromagnetic field magnitude differed significantly between women with unexplained spontaneous abortion <14 weeks and matched pregnant controls >14 weeks (P<0.001). The authors conclude ELF-EMF exposure is probably related to early spontaneous abortions.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Case-control design (cannot establish causality)",
        "Exposure assessment limited to measured in-home ELF field magnitude; other exposure sources not described",
        "Instrument frequency range limited to 30 Hz to 3 kHz",
        "Exposure metric details (e.g., timing during pregnancy, measurement duration, units) not reported in abstract",
        "Potential confounding not described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low frequency",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "pregnancy",
        "spontaneous abortion",
        "miscarriage",
        "residential exposure",
        "case-control"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "elf-pregnancy",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Examines ELF electromagnetic field exposure during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion."
        }
    ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Comments

No comments yet.