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Ecological study on residences in the vicinity of AM radio broadcasting towers and cancer death: preliminary observations in Korea

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Abstract

Objectives

Public health concern about the health effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) has increased with the increase in public exposure. This study was to evaluate some health effect of RF exposure by the AM radio broadcasting towers in Korea.

Methods

We calculated cancer mortality rates using Korean death certificates over the period of 1994?1995 and population census data in ten RF-exposed areas, defined as regions that included AM radio broadcasting towers of over 100?kW, and in control areas, defined as regions without a radio broadcasting tower inside and at least 2?km away from the towers.

Results

All cancers-mortality was significantly higher in the exposed areas [direct standardized mortality rate ratio (MRR) =1.29, 95%CI=1.12?1.49]. When grouped by each exposed area and by electrical power, MRRs for two sites of 100?kW, one site of 250?kW and one site of 500?kW, for all subjects, and for one site of 100?kW and two sites of 250?kW, for male subjects, showed statistically significant increases without increasing trends according to the groups of electric power. Leukemia mortality was higher in exposed areas (MRR=1.70, 95% CI=0.84?3.45), especially among young adults aged under 30 years (0?14 years age group, MRR=2.29, 95% CI=1.05?5.98; 15?29 age group, MRR=2.44, 95% CI=1.07?5.24) .

Conclusions

We observed higher mortality rates for all cancers and leukemia in some age groups in the area near the AM radio broadcasting towers. Although these findings do not prove a causal link between cancer and RF exposure from AM radio broadcasting towers, it does suggest that further analytical studies on this topic are needed in Korea.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Korean Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) for financial support and the Research Team of EMF Environment in ETRI for their cooperation.

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Author notes

  1. Mina Ha

    Present address: 7768 Heatherton Lane, Potomac, Maryland, MD 20854, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Chungju, South Korea

    Sue Kyung Park

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, San 29 Anseo-Dong, 330-714, Cheonan City, Chungnam, South Korea

    Mina Ha

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Hyung-Jun Im

Authors
  1. Sue Kyung Park
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  2. Mina Ha
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  3. Hyung-Jun Im
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Correspondence to Mina Ha .

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Park, S.K., Ha, M. & Im, HJ. Ecological study on residences in the vicinity of AM radio broadcasting towers and cancer death: preliminary observations in Korea. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 77 , 387?394 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0512-7

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  • DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0512-7

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