Epidemiologic studies in Niedersachsen and Berlin

Is there a connection between increased magnetic fields and children with leukemia? Numerous studies have dealt with this question, but mostly the answers have not been unmistakable. On the one hand many of the investigations proved to be questionable from the methodological point of view, on the other hand a biological mechanism explaining how magnetic fields could influence the development of leukemia has not yet been discovered. Therefore extensive case control studies are necessary.

In this context in January 98, four university departments published in common their results from case control studies in Berlin and Niedersachsen. For these studies 176 children suffering from leukemia and 414 healthy children in the control group were regarded. In the totally 590 flats, where the children lived, the magnetic fields mainly in the living room and in the children’s room were measured for 24 hours. Result: In 17 flats the magnetic field in the children’s room was over 0.2 Microteslas. In nine of these flats there lived children suffering from leukemia. These "raw" values alone are not very indicative: the different housing and living conditions have to be taken into consideration.

The scientists’ conclusion: "There are some references to a possible weak association between low frequency magnetic fields and the cases of leukemia with children". But in this study as well, there is not enough proof for a statistical significance.

From a nationwide case control study, which was begun at the end of 1997 and presumably will be concluded at the end of 1999, the scientists are expecting - owing to a higher number of cases studied - results with which the supposed connections could be proved or shown nonexisting.

Independant research -
Allocation of studies by the Research Association for Radio Applications (FGF)

Research projects on the topic of EMC mainly are sponsored by industry. This does not mean that the independance and quality of the results is affected in any form.

In order to guarantee qualified and independant research results, all studies commissioned by the Research Association for Radio Applications (FGF) are exclusively allocated according to scientific criteria to independant universities and acknowledged scientific research institutes.

All research commissions of the FGF meet the strict requirements of the World Health Organization WHO.

The FGF publicly invites tenders for a research project and asks all qualified institutions interested in the project to submit proposals within a fixed time period. These have to satisfy the conditions of the call for tenders regarding to form and contents.

In a next step the proposals are made anonymous and given to independant experts for their opinion. What is decisive for the membership in the comittee of experts is the international qualification of the scientists. There are also representatives with a critical opinion to "electromagnetic compatibility".

The allocation of a research project is decided by the experts’ recommendations.

In the context of the invitation for bids 1996/97, 42 definite project proposals were submitted for the research topics given by the FGF. Six research projects among these were chosen by the experts to be promoted by the FGF.

International large-scale project of the WHO for the investigation of the influence of electromagnetic waves on man and environment

The aim of the 5-year project initiated by the WHO is to know the effects on health and environment caused by exposure to static (0 Hz) and periodically changing electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields.

The examinations are executed in the frequency range between >0 Hz and 300 Hz and consequently are covering the ranges of power supply (low frequency) up to the radio frequencies.

In the low frequency range the WHO-experts identified concrete fields of interest for further investigation, especially questions concerning leukemia, breast cancer and the central nervous system. In the high frequency range, questions of causing and promoting cancer as well as electrosensitivity have priority.

In total 3.33 million US dollars are available for the coordination of the studies in the EMC-project. The real research support, which is mainly financed on a national basis, will be obviously on a higher level.