Fulltext

Residence Near Power Lines and Mortality From Neurodegenerative Diseases: Longitudinal Study of the Swiss Population

Huss, Anke ; Spoerri, Adrian ; Egger, Matthias ; Röösli, Martin

In: American Journal of Epidemiology, 2008, vol. 169, no. 2, p. 167-175

Add to personal list
    Title
    • Residence Near Power Lines and Mortality From Neurodegenerative Diseases: Longitudinal Study of the Swiss Population
    Author
    • Huss, Anke. Correspondence to Dr. Anke Huss, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland (e-mail: ahuss@ispm.unibe.ch).
    • Spoerri, Adrian
    • Egger, Matthias
    • Röösli, Martin
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • American Journal of Epidemiology, 2008, vol. 169, no. 2, p. 167-175. Oxford University Press
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:298458
    Summary
    The relation between residential magnetic field exposure from power lines and mortality from neurodegenerative conditions was analyzed among 4.7 million persons of the Swiss National Cohort (linking mortality and census data), covering the period 2000-2005. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the relation of living in the proximity of 220-380 kV power lines and the risk of death from neurodegenerative diseases, with adjustment for a range of potential confounders. Overall, the adjusted hazard ratio for Alzheimer's disease in persons living within 50 m of a 220-380 kV power line was 1.24 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80, 1.92) compared with persons who lived at a distance of 600 m or more. There was a dose-response relation with respect to years of residence in the immediate vicinity of power lines and Alzheimer's disease: Persons living at least 5 years within 50 m had an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.51 (95% CI: 0.91, 2.51), increasing to 1.78 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.96) with at least 10 years and to 2.00 (95% CI: 1.21, 3.33) with at least 15 years. The pattern was similar for senile dementia. There was little evidence for an increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or multiple sclerosis