EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

Introduction

Maria Blettner and Hiltrud Merzenich

Part I Epidemiological Concepts and Principles

Epidemiological Study Design: Architecture for Research

Anssi Auvinen

Occupational EMF Studies

Frank de Vocht

Epidemiological Exposure Assessment

Martin Röösli and Danielle Vienneau

Selection and Detection Bias

Maria Feychting

Confounding, Reverse Causation, and Ecological Fallacy

Susanna Lagorio

Part II State of Scientific Knowledge

Exposures to ELF-EMF in Everyday Environments

Joseph D Bowman

Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Our Everyday Environment

Patrizia Frei and Martin Röösli

Childhood Leukemia and Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields: Critical Evaluation of Epidemiologic Evidence Using Hill’s Framework

Leeka Kheifets and John Swanson

Adult Cancer and Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields

Gabor Mezei and Ximena P Vergara

Neurodegenerative Diseases and ELF-EMF

Anke Huss and Roel Vermeulen

Brain Tumors and Mobile Phone Use: The Cohort Approach

Aslak Harbo Poulsen and Patrizia Frei

Brain Tumors and Mobile Phone Use: The Case–Control Approach

Chelsea Eastman Langer and Elisabeth Cardis

Brain Tumors and Mobile Phone Use: The Ecological Approach

Peter D Inskip and Mark P Little

Synthesis of Epidemiological Studies on Mobile Phone Use and the Risk of Brain Tumors

Isabelle Deltour and Joachim Schüz

Electromagnetic Fields, Symptoms and Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance

Christos Baliatsas and G James Rubin

Part III The Broader Perspective

How Can Future Epidemiology and Laboratory Studies Complement Each Other?

Frank S Barnes and Ben Greenebaum

What If? The Public Health Perspective

Michael Kundi and Hans-Peter Hutter

An Outlook into Future EMF Exposure Scenarios

Norbert Leitgeb

Future of EMF Epidemiology

Mireille B Toledano and Rachel B Smith

Index

Features
- Introduces the general concepts and principles of environmental epidemiology, focusing on EMF examples
- Covers epidemiological study designs, exposure assessment methods, implications for study results, selection bias, confounding, and other biases including reverse causality and ecological fallacy
- Considers how novelty, the steep increase of radiofrequency (RF) EMF exposure from wireless communications, and other challenges affect risk assessment today

Summary

Appeals to a Wide Audience

Fueled by more than 30 years of intensive research and debate on the impact of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on everyday life—starting with residential exposure to magnetic fields and the development of childhood cancer in the 70s and continuing with risk of exposure via wireless communications in present day—Epidemiology of Electromagnetic Fields addresses ongoing public and scientific controversy surrounding the possible effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) to human health, and provides an in-depth introduction into the methodology of environmental epidemiology that is appropriate for all levels, from student to practicing engineer.

Exposure to EMF

Focusing primarily on EMF examples, the author presents the general principles and methodological concepts in environmental epidemiology. Topics of importance in the first part of the book include epidemiological study designs, exposure assessment methods and implications for the study results, as well as selection bias, confounding, and other biases including reverse causality and ecological fallacy. The second part of the book covers environmental epidemiological methods in detail and outlines key examples such as childhood leukemia and exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields, as well as examples that look at brain tumors and mobile phone use. The book also offers a detailed discussion on the range of EMF sources and exposures. In addition, it highlights the sophisticated assessment methods required to address exposure situations, and provides a historical perspective. The third part of the book examines how EMF exposure from the use of wireless communication techniques and other challenges affect risk assessment today and also details future developments.

- Explores environmental epidemiological methods in detail, while critically discussing epidemiological findings
- Provides a state-of-the-art overview of the scientific evidence of the health effects of EMF
- Considers how novelty, the steep increase of radiofrequency (RF) EMF exposure from wireless communications, and other challenges affect risk assessment today

Epidemiology of Electromagnetic Fields provides a thorough overview of the subject, and evaluates the scientific evidence surrounding the possible health effects of EMFs.