A Population-Based Cohort Study of Occupational Exposure to Magnetic Fields and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

PurposeThis cohort study aims to examine cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risks among workers in occupations potentially exposed to magnetic fields (MF).MethodsRisks for major CVD mortality by potential job-related MF exposure were examined in a sample of U.S. workers from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study using multivariate proportional hazards models.ResultsAfter adjustment for demographic factors, there were no significant excess risks between individuals with medium (0.15 to <0.20 μT), high (0.20 to <0.30 μT), or very high (≥0.30 μT) exposure levels as compared with individuals with background exposure levels of MF (<0.15 μT) for the CVD mortality outcomes. Indirect adjustment for potential confounding by current smoking prevalence did not change the pattern of these results.ConclusionOur study does not provide evidence for an association between occupational MF exposure and CVD mortality risk.