23 October 2019

The UK electricity industry maintains a cohort of around 82,000 staff from the 1970s. This cohort looks at cause of death for any associations with occupational risk factors including EMFs. This study expanded on previous published results, including cancer incidence data up to the end of 2015. The key findings were:

• excesses for male workers for mesothelioma (asbestos related cancer), skin cancer and prostate cancer;

• overall cancer morbidity slightly lower than expected in males and as expected in females;

• excesses for female workers for cancer of the smaller intestine, nasal cancer, and breast cancer

Overall, no association between occupation EMF exposure and cancer has been found. Excesses of specific cancer types have been observed and can be explained by asbestos or sun exposure. Further information about the study can be found here.