Radiation Exposure Associated with Cancer in Military Personnel

by | Nov 6, 2019 | 2018, Cancer, Environmental Health, Radioactivity and Irradiation

Written by Jessica Patella, ND. The consistent association of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure and highly elevated hematolymphatic cancer risk in the four military occupation settings spread over three countries, suggests a potential cause-effect relationship between RFR and HL cancers in military/occupational settings.

There is question if radio frequency exposure is a carcinogen.  Radio frequency is defined as 30-300 GHz band wavelength.  This includes cell phones, computers, TV, police radios, satellite communication, radar and microwaves 1.  Radio frequency radiation in the military is common due to radio communication, radar for surveillance and weapon guidance 2.  In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radio frequency radiation (RFR) as a possible human carcinogen 2,3.  Recent research found that radio frequency radiation in the military setting increased the risk of blood and lymph cancers 2.

The participants reviewed were those in the military exposed to communications equipment, radar and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, mainly power lines that were part of a case study by Stein et al. 1,2,4.  Exposures were often intense and irregular, but varied in duration amongst individuals 2.  This group was then compared to the general population with data obtained from the Israeli cancer registry 2,5.

In the 47 patients in the military the following results were observed: 19 cases of hematolymphatic cancers; 14 head and neck cancers (8 brain, 3 bones of the head); 6 testicular cancers; 2 breast cancers; 1 case each of gastrointestinal, lung, kidney, melanoma, bone and liver; 6 participants had multiple primary tumors (12.7%).

The cancer type focused on was hematolymphatic cancers which included leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma and plasma cell tumors 2.  The researchers then calculated the percentage frequency of the hematolymphatic cancers, which is the proportion of a specific cancer type relative to the total number of cancer cases 2.  This calculation showed the proportion of hematolymphatic cancers was 40% in the military occupational group, while the expected percentage frequency for this age and gender is 23.4% (p<0.01) 2.

These results are also similar to three other observational population-based cohort studies that showed an increased risk of hematolymphatic cancers when exposed to specific radio frequencies.

  • In Poland military 36% exposed to radio frequency developed hematolymphatic cancer. The military personnel (20-59 years old) in active service were exposed occupationally to pulse-modulated RF/MW radiation during a 15 period (1971-1985) 6.
  • For radar exposure in Belgium military, hematolymphatic cancers were the cause of death in 8.3% of exposed compared to 1.4% in those not exposed. (The exposed consisted of Belgian professional male military personnel who served in 2 radar battalions in Germany and were continually exposed to Hawk radar systems from1963 until 1994. They were compared to Belgian professional military personnel who served in 3 battalions located in the same place in Germany during the same period but not equipped with radars) 7.
  • The most dramatic findings were defense industry personnel in Israel who were in close range to antennas in Israel. Hematolymphatic cancers occurred in 60% while only 17% is expected for this group age and gender profile, p=0.04.2

In conclusion there was an observed increase in hematolymphatic cancers in those exposed to radio and radiation in occupational and military settings 2.  The authors recommend that RFR military exposures should be substantially reduced and efforts should be undertaken to monitor cohorts exposed to RFR for cancer and other health effects. Researchers conclude by suggesting the classification of this exposure as a group 1 carcinogen 2.

Source: Peleg, Michael, Or Nativ, and Elihu D. Richter. “Radio frequency radiation-related cancer: assessing causation in the occupational/military setting.” Environmental research 163 (2018): 123-133.

© 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Posted November 6, 2019.

Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.

References:

  1. Administration USFD. Radiofrequency Background. 2017; https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/cell-phones/radiofrequency-background. Accessed October 30, 2019.
  2. Peleg M, Nativ O, Richter ED. Radio frequency radiation-related cancer: assessing causation in the occupational/military setting. Environmental research. 2018;163:123-133.
  3. Humans IWGotEoCRt. Non-ionizing radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. 2013;102(PT 2):1.
  4. Stein Y, Levy-Nativ O, Richter ED. A sentinel case series of cancer patients with occupational exposures to electromagnetic non-ionizing radiation and other agents/Una serie di casi sentinella di pazienti affetti da cancro con esposizione lavorativa a radiazioni elettromagnetiche non ionizzanti e altri agenti. European Journal of Oncology. 2011;16(1):21-54.
  5. Robinson E, Silverman BG, Keinan-Boker L. Using Israel’s National Cancer Registry Database to Track Progress in the War against Cancer: A Challenge for Health Services. The Israel Medical Association journal: IMAJ. 2017;19(4):221-224.