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Environmental power-frequency magnetic fields and suicide

PAPER manual Health Phys 1981 Ecological study Effect: harm Evidence: Very low

Abstract

We studied the relationship between power-frequency magnetic fields and locations of suicidal deaths in 1969–76 in the West Midlands, England. We found a significant correlation between suicide locations and the measured power-frequency magnetic field strength. Significantly more suicides occurred at locations of high magnetic field strength.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance
Study type
Ecological study
Effect direction
harm
Population
Suicidal deaths (locations) in the West Midlands, England
Sample size
Exposure
ELF environmental · 1969–76
Evidence strength
Very low
Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In the West Midlands (England) during 1969–76, suicide locations were significantly correlated with measured power-frequency magnetic field strength, with more suicides occurring at locations with high magnetic field strength.

Outcomes measured

  • suicide (location of suicidal deaths)

Limitations

  • Study design based on correlation between locations and measured field strength; causality cannot be determined from the abstract.
  • No sample size or adjustment for potential confounders described in the abstract.
  • Exposure characterization details (frequency, measurement methods, timing relative to deaths) not provided in the abstract.

Suggested hubs

  • occupational-exposure (0.15)
    Mentions environmental power-frequency magnetic fields; no clear occupational setting stated, so only weak relevance.
View raw extracted JSON
{
    "study_type": "ecological",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "environmental",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "1969–76"
    },
    "population": "Suicidal deaths (locations) in the West Midlands, England",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "suicide (location of suicidal deaths)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In the West Midlands (England) during 1969–76, suicide locations were significantly correlated with measured power-frequency magnetic field strength, with more suicides occurring at locations with high magnetic field strength.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Study design based on correlation between locations and measured field strength; causality cannot be determined from the abstract.",
        "No sample size or adjustment for potential confounders described in the abstract.",
        "Exposure characterization details (frequency, measurement methods, timing relative to deaths) not provided in the abstract."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "very_low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "power-frequency",
        "ELF magnetic fields",
        "environmental exposure",
        "suicide",
        "spatial correlation",
        "West Midlands",
        "England"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.1499999999999999944488848768742172978818416595458984375,
            "reason": "Mentions environmental power-frequency magnetic fields; no clear occupational setting stated, so only weak relevance."
        }
    ]
}

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.

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