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BREAST CANCER RATE NOT LINKED TO EMF by Laura Mgrdichian, Suffolk Life
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Stony Brook University’s School of Medicine found that there is no indication that electromagnetic fields produced from power lines and appliances, increase the risk of breast cancer. If nothing else, this news may bring Long Island women a little extra reassurance that one possible cause, at least, has been ruled out. The study’s major finding showed that there were no differences in the electromagnetic field levels in and near the homes of women who have breast cancer and those who don’t. This points to the conclusion that there is no association between EMF and breast cancer. The study is the most comprehensive of its kind. It took $2.5 million and six years to complete and involved Long Island women exclusively. The study’s principal investigator is Dr. Cristina Leske, a professor of preventive medicine at the School of Medicine. “This is good news”, said Leske. “What we thought was something that could have been a risk factor, we did not find.” The basis for the study was a possible connection between EMF and breast cancer that involved the hormones melatonin and estrogen. Because EMF can affect the production of melatonin and melatonin can affect the production of estrogen, which is linked to breast cancer, it was hypothesized that EMF might cause an increased risk of breast cancer. “We really did not think of EMF fields as being harmful to our health,” said Leske. “We felt that this was a hypothesis that was very much worth exploring.” The women in the study were required to have lived in their homes for at least 15 years and were divided into two groups, the cases and the controls. There were 576 women in the cases group, all with breast cancer, and 585 in the controls group, all without breast cancer. The ages of the women in both groups ranged from 20 to 74 with an average age of 58. These particular women were chosen because they had participated in a previous study known as the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project; the participation rate was thus very high. The resulting interviews, which asked participants about their residential history and general EMF exposure, became part of the new study. The new study conducted a second round of interviews that were much more specific; the interviews were blind such that the interviewers did not know which women had breast cancer. Following this several EMF measurements were taken in each woman’s home. Spot measurements were taken at the front door, bedroom, and most frequently used room. Ground current measurements and measurements spanning 24 hours were also taken in those two rooms. The study also took into account any major power lines that are nearby. When analyzed, the measurements provided to be no different between the women with breast cancer and the women without it. Some homes did have higher levels than others, but the range of EMF was the same in both groups. With that possible cause out of the way, what else could be causing Long Island’s high rate? Leske said a study had been conducted on cell phone and microwave radiations but would not comment because it had not been released yet. As for investigating other possible causes, she said her group “Hasn’t decided which way we will go next,” but that breast cancer research would continue vigorously. She added that there is still data being analyzed. Debbie Winn, the Director for the National Cancer Institute is funding research that will follow young girls for four to five years. Studying them could determine what they might be exposed to while growing up that would increase their risk for breast cancer. “We would look at how cells develop, how things like toxic chemicals may affect hormonal levels and cells in the breast, Winn said. “There are still a lot of issues out there.” Reprinted with permission from Suffolk Life |
