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| TITLE: | EMF and Breast Cancer on Long Island Study | ||
| Principal Investigator |
M. Cristina Leske, M.D., M.P.H. | University Medical Center at Stony Brook | |
| Health Relevance |
Cancer | ||
| Research Categories |
Studies Involving People | Epidemiologic Research | Breast Cancer |
| FY95 Funds | R01CA/ES62991 $ 452,968 | Start Date 9/30/93 | End Date 8/31/98 |
| Rationale and Summary |
Breast cancer incidence rates for Long Island women have been among the highest in New York
State for many years. This has raised major community concerns about possible environmental
causes specific to this geographic area. Recent studies have suggested that electromagnetic fields
may increase the risk of breast cancer. The hypothesis for the association is based on experimental
evidence that light and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF) affect melatonin
production by the pineal gland. Laboratory studies have linked changes in melatonin production
with mammary carcinogenesis. The EMF and Breast Cancer on Long Island Study (EBCLIS) is a
case-control study with the major aim of evaluating the association between EMF exposures and
breast cancer among Long Island women. The study is linked to the Long Island Breast Cancer
Study Project (LIBCSP), which includes several breast cancer studies conducted by a consortium of
medical, academic and research institutions. The broad objective of the LIBCSP is to explore the
relationship between cancer on Long Island and specific environmental factors designated by a
congressional mandate. One of the factors specified by this legislation is EMF exposure.
The centerpiece of the LIBCSP is a population-based, case-control study led by the Columbia University School of Public Health along with other institutions on Long Island and in New York City. This study was designed to evaluate associations between breast cancer and exposure to organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. To increase efficiency and avoid overlap in ascertainment and data collection on cases and controls, EBCLIS has been restructured to become a companion study to the Columbia-led study. Therefore, EBCLIS will be conducted by collecting EMF exposure data on a subset of the Columbia case-control study participants. The specific aims to be achieved are: 1. To evaluate the hypothesis of an association between EMF and breast cancer. Magnetic field exposures of breast cancer cases will be compared to those of control women without the disease. 2. To determine exposures, data collection will include self-reported information and residential measurements of magnetic fields, such as spot and 24-hour measurements, ground currents and wire coding. 3. To enhance interpretation of exposure data, both cases and controls will be women 50 years of age and older who have lived in the same Long Island residence (in Nassau or Suffolk counties) for at least 15 years. | ||
| Experimental Design and Exposure Conditions |
Women who meet the study eligibility criteria (500 cases and 500 controls) will be selected from
the LIBCSP. Cases will be recruited such that every woman eligible will be recruited until the total
sample size is achieved. EMF data collection will begin on August 1, 1996 four months after the
LIBCSP starts recruitment. We plan on periodically assessing the age comparability of cases and
controls throughout the study and making adjustments, if needed to maintain age balance.
EMF measurements will be as follows: Interview aimed at obtaining additional EMF exposure data and to document additional residential variables that could be potential confounders in evaluating possible associations with wire codes. Data include self-reported information, as well as documentation of geographic location of home through the use of a Global Position System Indicator; this will allow geocoding and eventual linkage of study homes to air pollution indices, as well as U.S. census data and other geographically based measures (e.g. measurement of traffic density). Spot magnetic field measurements, under normal power usage conditions, using an EMDEX C meter. 24-hour magnetic field recording, done by leaving the EMDEX C in the woman’s bedroom. Use of a test electrical load to identify homes in which ground currents, and ground current contributions to residential magnetic fields, are elevated. Wire coding, using the full and the modified Wertheimer-Leeper method, adapted by Dr. Kaune after a visit to Long Island. Wire coding will be conducted for all EBCLIS participants and non- participants at separate times during the course of the study, as recommended by the Advisory Committee. |
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| Quality Assurance Measures |
It is important to coordinate the timing of accrual of cases and controls, so that there is a steady
accrual of each. If not, the cases and controls might vary by season. It is likely that magnetic field
levels measured in many Long Island homes will exhibit a seasonal dependence, with the largest
fields measured during hot days in the summer when demand for electrical power is highest. Thus,
it is important to minimize seasonal differences between the times when cases and controls undergo
their magnetic field measurements. To achieve this goal, cases and controls should be measured at
the same rate throughout the study.
Quality control measures will be included into the study protocol for all data collection procedures. The wire code, EMDEX measurement, and ground current data will be evaluated, as well as the interview data acquired in the study. The largest risks for decreasing the quality of the data are instrumental failures that go unrecognized and deviations from the experimental protocol. Consequently daily checks of the functioning and gross calibration of the EMDEX C meters will be performed. Also, rigorous evaluation of data collection to maintain quality and accuracy of the data will be performed. |
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| Results and Discussion |
Data collection will begin August 1, 1996. There are no results to report at this time. | ||
| Recent Publications |
None. | ||