Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Residential exposure to overhead high-voltage lines and the risk of testicular cancer: results of a population-based case–control study in Hamburg (Germany)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background: In a population-based case–control study we examined the association between residential exposure to overhead high-voltage lines and testicular cancer. Methods: We recorded the residential biography of cases with testicular cancer identified by the Hamburg Cancer Registry and of controls that were randomly selected from the mandatory registry of residents in Hamburg. The study included 145 incident cases between 15 and 69 years of age, diagnosed between 1995 and 1997, and 313 controls, matched for age in 5-year strata. In model A, exposure was defined by distance (ever vs never). Model B took into account residence time and the inverse distance from the nearest high-voltage line. It distinguished between low and high exposure, the never exposed persons serving as a reference group. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression. For men below the age of 40 years and men aged 40 years and over separate analyses were carried out. Results: Within a corridor of 100 m the prevalence of exposure to high-voltage lines in Hamburg was 6.9% in cases and 5.8% in controls (OR=1.3; 95% CI=0.56–2.80). In the more complex model B we found an OR of 1.2 (95% CI=0.60–2.47) for low exposure and 1.7 (95% CI=0.91–3.32) for high exposure. Younger men show slightly increased risks in both models. Conclusions: In all, residential exposure to high-voltage lines did not seem to be a major risk factor for testicular cancer in our study. Yet, the fact that risks for men below the age of 40 years were slightly increased in both exposure models deserves further attention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baubehörde (1997) Amt für Geoinformation und Vermessung. Digitale Stadtkarte Hamburg

  • Baumgardt-Elms C, Ahrens W, Bromen K, Boikat U, Stang A, Jahn I, Stegmaier C, Jöckel KH (2002) Testicular cancer and electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the workplace: results of a population-based case–control study in Germany. Cancer Causes Control 13:895–902

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bergstrom R, Adami HO, Möhner M, Zatonski W, Storm H, Ekbom A, Steinar T, Teppo L, Akre O, Hakulinen T (1996) Increase in testicular cancer incidence in six European countries: a birth cohort phenomenon. J Natl Cancer Inst 88:727–733

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boikat U, Manikowsky S (1996) Vorbeugung beim Wohnungsbau gegen elektromagnetische Felder von Hochspannungsleitungen—Grundlagen der Risikobewertung Gesundheitswesen 58:147–153

  • Bokemeyer C, Harstrick A, Schoffski P, Schmoll HJ, Keimzelltumoren des Hodens PH (1992) Epidemiologische und ätiologische Aspekte. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 117:1532

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buetow SA (1995) Epidemiology of testicular cancer. Epidemiol Rev 17:433–449

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman MP, Estève J, Damiecki P, Arslan A, Renard H (1993) Trends in cancer incidence and mortality, 1st edn, vol 121. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, pp 521–542

  • Davis RL, Mostofi FK (1993) Cluster of testicular cancer in police officers exposed to hand-held radar. Am J Ind Med 24:231–233

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erren TC (1996) Association between exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields and cancer in electric utility workers in Quebec, Canada, and France. Am J Epidemiol 143:841

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferlay J, Bray F, Sankila R, Parkin DM (1999) EUCAN: cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence in the European Union 1995, version 2.0. IARC CancerBase No. 4. IARC Press, Lyon

  • Fews AP, Henshaw DL, Keitch PA, Close JJ, Wilding RJ (1999) Increased exposure to pollutant aerosols under overhead high-voltage lines. Int J Radiat Biol 75:1505–1521

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelstein MM (1998) Cancer incidence among Ontario police officers. Am J Ind Med 34:157–162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Floderus B, Stenlund C, Persson T (1999) Occupational magnetic field exposure and site-specific cancer incidence: a Swedish cohort study. Cancer Causes Control 10:323–332

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forman D, Gallagher R, Møller H, Swerdlow TJ (1990) Aetiology and epidemiology of testicular cancer: report of consensus group. In: Anonymous prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Wiley-Liss, pp 245–253

  • Garland FC, Gorham ED, Garland CF, Ducatman AM (1988) Testicular cancer in US Navy personnel. Am J Epidemiol 127:411–414

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hardell L, Holmberg B, Malker H, Paulsson LE (1995) Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and the risk of malignant diseases—an evaluation of epidemiological and experimental findings. Eur J Cancer Prev 4 [Suppl 1]:103–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardell L, Nasman A, Ohlson CG, Fredrikson M (1998) Case–control study on risk factors for testicular cancer. Int J Oncol 13:1299–1303

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes RB, Brown LM, Pottern LM, Gomez M, Kardaun JW, Hoover RN, et al (1990) Occupation and risk for testicular cancer: a case–control study. Int J Epidemiol 19:825–831

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henshaw DL (1997) Electromagnetic field exposure and lung cancer. Am J Epidemiol 146:366

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2002) IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, vol 80, non-ionizing radiation, part 1: Static and extremely low-frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields, IARC Press, Lyon, France

  • Jöckel KH, Babitsch B, Bellach BM, Bloomfield K, Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik J, Winkler J (1998) Empfehlungen der Arbeitsgruppe “Epidemiologische Methoden” in der Deutschen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Epidemiologie der Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (GMDS) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Sozialmedizin und Prävention (DGSMP) zur Messung und Quantifizierung soziodemographischer Merkmale in epidemiologischen Studien. In: Ahrens W, Bellach BM, Jöckel KH (eds) Messung soziodemographischer Merkmale in der Epidemiologie. RKI Schriften 1/09, MMV-Verlag, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoke JD, Gray GC, Garland FC (1998) Testicular cancer and Persian Gulf War service. Epidemiology 9:648–653

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merzenich H, Ahrens W, Stang A, Baumgardt-Elms C, Jahn I, Stegmaier C, Jöckel KH (2000) Sorting the hype from the facts in testicular cancer: is testicular cancer related to trauma? J Urol 164:2143–2144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Møller H (1993) Clues to the aetiology of testicular germ cell tumours from descriptive epidemiology. Eur Urol 23:8–15

    Google Scholar 

  • National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), US National Institutes of Health (1998) Assessment of health effects from exposure to power-line frequency electric and magnetic fields: working group report, NIH publication no. 98-3981

  • Pearce N, Sheppard RA, Howard JK, Fraser J, Lilley BM (1987) Time trends and occupational differences in cancer of the testis in New Zealand. Cancer 59:1677–1682

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce N, Reif J, Fraser J (1989) Case–control studies of cancer in New Zealand electrical workers. Int J Epidemiol 18:55–59

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prener A, Hsieh C, Engholm G, Trichopoulos D, Jensen OM (1992) Birth order and risk of testicular cancer. Cancer Causes Control 3:265–272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryder SJ, Crawford PI, Pethybridge RJ (1997) Is testicular cancer an occupational disease? A case–control study of Royal Naval personnel. J R Nav Med Serv 83:130–146

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schottenfeld D (1996) Testicular cancer. In: Schottenfeld D, Fraumeni JFJ (eds) Cancer epidemiology and prevention, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 1207–1219

    Google Scholar 

  • Schümann M, Baumgardt-Elms C, Berger J, Hartmann R, Haartje U, Burkhardt N (2001) Leukämien bei Kindern und Jugendlichen in Hamburg (1980–1995). Auswertungen zur Entwicklung der Inzidenz und regionalen Verteilung. P. Lang Verlag, Frankfurt a.M.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schüz J, Grigat J-P, Störmer B, Rippin G, Brinkmann K, Michaelis J (2000) Extremely low frequency magnetic fields in residences in Germany. Distribution of measurements, comparison of two methods for assessing exposure, and predictors for the occurrence of magnetic fields above background level. Radiat Environ Biophys 39:233–240

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SPSS for Windows (1989–1999) Release 10.0.5 (27 November 1999) Standard version, SPSS

  • Stang A, Ahrens W, Bromen K, Baumgardt-Elms C, Jahn I, Stegmaier C, Krege S, Jöckel KH (2001) Undescended testis and the risk of testicular cancer: importance of source and classification of exposure information. Int J Epidemiol 30:1050–1056

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stang A, Jöckel KH, Baumgardt-Elms C, Ahrens W (2003) Firefighting and risk of testicular cancer: results from a German population-based case–control study. Am J Ind Med 43:291–294

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stenlund C, Floderus B (1997) Occupational exposure to magnetic fields in relation to male breast cancer and testicular cancer: a Swedish case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 8:184–191

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swerdlow AJ, Skeet RG (1988) Occupational associations of testicular cancer in south east England. Br J Ind Med 45:225–230

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swerdlow AJ, Douglas AJ, Huttly SR, Smith PG (1991) Cancer of the testis, socioeconomic status, and occupation. Br J Ind Med 48:670–674

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Törnquist S, Norell S, Ahlboom A, Knave B (1986) Cancer in the electric power industry. BMJ 43:212–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Tynes T, Andersen A, Langmark F (1992) Incidence of cancer in Norwegian workers potentially exposed to electromagnetic fields. Am J Epidemiol 136:81–88

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • United Kingdom Testicular Cancer Study Group (1994) Social, behavioural and medical factors in the aetiology of testicular cancer: results from the UK study. UK Testicular Cancer Study Group. Br J Cancer 70:513

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Eeden SK, Weiss NS, Strader CH, Daling JR (1991) Occupation and the occurrence of testicular cancer. Am J Ind Med 19:327–337

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verkasalo PK, Pukkala E, Kaprio J, Heikkila KV, Koskenvuo M (1996) Magnetic fields of overhead high-voltage lines and risk of cancer in Finnish adults: nationwide cohort study (see comments). BMJ 313:1047–1051

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wertheimer N, Leeper E (1979) Electrical wiring configurations and childhood cancer. Am J Epidemiol 109:273–284

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF No. 01HP 684/8). We are grateful to the clinicians and pathologists who reported cases for the study. We thank the Central Registry of Residents in Hamburg Harburg, who made data available on the residential biography of study subjects in Hamburg, and Mr. Norbert Burkhardt (Hamburg Cancer Registry) for his support in documenting the residential biography of subjects in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hamburg Cancer Registry, State Ministry of Science and Health, Hamburg, Germany

    Cornelia Baumgardt-Elms

  2. Fachabteilung Patientenschutz und Sicherheit in der Medizin, State Ministry of Science and Health, Adolph-Schönfelder-Strasse 5, 22083, Hamburg, Germany

    Cornelia Baumgardt-Elms

  3. Working Group Epidemiology, State Ministry of Science and Health and Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science in Medicine of the University Clinics of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Michael Schümann

  4. Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine, Bremen, Germany

    Wolfgang Ahrens & Ingeborg Jahn

  5. Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Clinics of Essen, Essen, Germany

    Wolfgang Ahrens, Katja Bromen, Andreas Stang & Karl-Heinz Jöckel

  6. Saarland Cancer Registry, Saarbrücken, Germany

    Christa Stegmaier

Authors
  1. Cornelia Baumgardt-Elms
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Schümann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wolfgang Ahrens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Katja Bromen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Andreas Stang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ingeborg Jahn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Christa Stegmaier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Karl-Heinz Jöckel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cornelia Baumgardt-Elms.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Baumgardt-Elms, C., Schümann, M., Ahrens, W. et al. Residential exposure to overhead high-voltage lines and the risk of testicular cancer: results of a population-based case–control study in Hamburg (Germany). Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78, 20–26 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0550-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0550-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation