BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields has been linked to adverse birth outcomes. This study evaluated whether maternal residential proximity to power transmission lines was associated with adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: Live singleton births in the Montréal and Québec census metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2004 were extracted from the Québec birth file (N=707,215). Proximity was defined as residing within 400 m of a transmission line. Generalised estimating equations were used to evaluate associations between residential proximity to transmission lines and preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), small-for-gestational age (SGA) birth and infant sex, accounting for maternal age, education, marital status, ethnicity, parity, period of birth, and neighbourhood median household income. RESULTS: There was no association between residential proximity to transmission lines and PTB, LBW and infant sex in unadjusted and adjusted models. A lower likelihood of SGA birth was present for some distance categories (eg, adjusted OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.95 for 50-75 m relative to ≥400 m). CONCLUSION: Residential proximity to transmission lines is not associated with adverse births outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields has been linked to adverse birth outcomes. This study evaluated whether maternal residential proximity to power transmission lines was associated with adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: Live singleton births in the Montréal and Québec census metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2004 were extracted from the Québec birth file (N=707,215). Proximity was defined as residing within 400 m of a transmission line. Generalised estimating equations were used to evaluate associations between residential proximity to transmission lines and preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), small-for-gestational age (SGA) birth and infant sex, accounting for maternal age, education, marital status, ethnicity, parity, period of birth, and neighbourhood median household income. RESULTS: There was no association between residential proximity to transmission lines and PTB, LBW and infant sex in unadjusted and adjusted models. A lower likelihood of SGA birth was present for some distance categories (eg, adjusted OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.95 for 50-75 m relative to ≥400 m). CONCLUSION: Residential proximity to transmission lines is not associated with adverse births outcomes.
Authors: Ryan C Lewis; Russ Hauser; Andrew D Maynard; Richard L Neitzel; Lu Wang; Robert Kavet; John D Meeker Journal: J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev Date: 2016 Impact factor: 6.393
Authors: Ryan C Lewis; Russ Hauser; Andrew D Maynard; Richard L Neitzel; Lu Wang; Robert Kavet; Patricia Morey; Jennifer B Ford; John D Meeker Journal: Radiat Prot Dosimetry Date: 2015-12-24 Impact factor: 0.972