Congenital malformations and exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation among Danish physiotherapists

Abstract

A cluster initiated the present case-referent study to assess the relation between exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation and congenital malformations. Through the linkage of a cohort formed from a union file of Danish physiotherapists with complete national registers of pregnancy outcome, cases (pregnancies terminated by the birth of a malformed child) and referents were identified. From responses in a blinded telephone interview without knowledge of case status, exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation in the first month of pregnancy was assessed. Indices reflecting duration of exposure ('time') and maximum level of exposure ('peak') were composed. After a 7% dropout 54 cases and 247 referents were interviewed. No statistically significant associations between pregnancy outcome and high-frequency electromagnetic radiation were found (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 0.6-4.3).