Câncer

Cancer Epidemiology
Volume 35, Issue 6, December 2011, Pages 534–539
Exposure to magnetic fields and childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia in São Paulo, Brazil * Victor Wünsch-Filhoa, Daniele M. Pelissaria, Flávio E. Barbierib, Leonel Sant’Annab, Claúdia T. de Oliveirac, Juliana F. de Matad, Luiz G. Tonee, Maria Lúcia de M. Leef, Maria Lydia M. de Andréag, Paula Brunierah, Sidnei Epelmani, Vicente Odone Filhok, Leeka Kheifetsj * a Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil * b Associação Brasileira de Compatibilidade Eletromagnética, São Paulo, Brazil * c Hospital Amaral Carvalho, Jau, Brazil * d Hospital do Câncer de Barretos, Brazil * e Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil * f Instituto de Oncologia Pediátrica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil * g Hospital Infantil Darcy Vargas, São Paulo, Brazil * h Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Brazil * i Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, Brazil * j School of Public Health, University of California at Los Angeles, USA * k Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Abstract
Background: Epidemiological studies have identified increased risks of leukemia in children living near power lines and exposed to relatively high levels of magnetic fields. Results have been remarkably consistent, but there is still no explanation for this increase. In this study we evaluated the effect of 60 Hz magnetic fields on acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: This case–control study included ALL cases (n = 162) recruited from eight hospitals between January 2003 and February 2009. Controls (n = 565) matched on gender, age, and city of birth were selected from the São Paulo Birth Registry. Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) was based on measurements inside home and distance to power lines. Results: For 24 h measurements in children rooms, levels