Author: Luna J1, Leleu JP2, Preux PM3, Corcia P4, Couratier P5, Marin B3, Boumediene F, Fralim Consortium
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, GEIST, 87000 Limoges, France. Electronic address: jaime-andres.luna-mendez@unilim.fr.
<sup>2</sup>INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, GEIST, 87000 Limoges, France.
<sup>3</sup>INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, GEIST, 87000 Limoges, France; CHU Limoges, Centre d'Epidémiologie de Biostatistique et de Méthodologie de la Recherche, Limoges, France.
<sup>4</sup>Centre de compétence SLA-fédération Tours-Limoges, CHU de Tours, 37044 Tours cedex 9, France.
<sup>5</sup>INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France; CHU Limoges, Service de Neurologie, Centre expert ALS, Limoges, France.
<sup>6</sup>INSERM, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France; Univ. Limoges, UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, GEIST, 87000 Limoges, France. Electronic address: farid.boumediene@unilim.fr.
Conference/Journal: Environ Res.
Date published: 2019 Jun 11
Other:
Volume ID: 176 , Pages: 108525 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108525. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 302
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. Mobile communication antennas have increased over the last few decades. Consequently, there has been a steady increase in environmental exposure to ultra high frequency electromagnetic fields (UHF-EMFs) emitted by Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication antennas, which raises concerns about possible health risks in the general population. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between residential exposure to UHF-EMFs generated by GSM antennas and the risk of ALS in general population. A geo-epidemiological population-based study was performed in Limousin (France). ALS incident cases were identified through a register (FRALim, 2000-2012 period). A model to estimate UHF-EMF exposure was developed based on the distance and the power of GSM antennas. Exposure to multiple emissions from multiple directions was considered. A non-cumulative and a cumulative model were established. A geographic information system integrated the raster model of exposure, and the residential distribution of observed and expected cases. A generalized linear model was performed to test the association. Overall, 312 ALS cases were included. We estimated exposures below 1.72 V/m in urban areas and below 1.23 V/m in rural areas for 90% of the population. A gradient effect between UHF-EMF exposure and ALS incidence was apparent with a statistically significant trend. A significant increased risk of ALS was observed between the non-exposure category and the highest exposure category, with a relative risk of 1.78 (95% CI: 1.28-2.48) in the non-cumulative model and 1.83 (95% CI: 1.32-2.54) in the cumulative model. Our results suggest a possible association between residential UHF-EMF exposure and ALS. Ecological studies are a means of generating hypotheses. Further studies are needed to clarify the potential role of EMFs on neurodegeneration.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Global system for mobile (GSM) antennas; Population-based study; Risk; Ultra-high frequency electromagnetic fields
PMID: 31226626 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108525