1st Edition

Epidemiology of Electromagnetic Fields

Edited By Martin Roosli Copyright 2014
    368 Pages 40 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

     

    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.

    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

    Biography

    Martin Röösli has a background in atmospheric physics and a PhD in environmental epidemiology. He is a professor at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel. His research focuses on environmental health and includes exposure assessment studies, etiological research, and health risk assessment in the areas of electromagnetic fields, ionizing radiation, noise exposure, passive smoking, climate change, and ambient air pollution. He has conducted epidemiological studies on personal exposure and health effects of electromagnetic fields, is a member of various national and international commissions on environmental health risk, and has published numerous scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters.

    "[A]ll scientists interested in environmental epidemiology, or more specifically the epidemiology of electromagnetic fields, should have this book on their shelves. A health physicist or scientist who wants to know pretty much everything about these subjects will find the chapters of this book a treasure trove of information selected by experts in the field. Even an expert in the field will take pleasure in finding that the authors have addressed esoteric topics like ‘reverse causation.’"
    Health Physics, April 2015