| Popis: |
Data on cancer morbidity in workers exposed to radiofrequency (RF) and microwave (MW) radiation are scarce and fragmentaric (Wennberg, 1996). Some time ago the results of our retrospective analysis of cancer morbidity for the whole population of career military personnel in Poland during the decade of 1970–1979 was published (Szmigielski et al., 1988), although at that time the exact size of the population could not be revealed; therefore, the results and their discussion were limited to mortality rates (number of newly diagnosed cancer cases per 100 000 of subjects per year). Nevertheless, a significantly higher rate of particular types of neoplasms (haematologic, lymphatic system, skin tumors, alimentary tract cancers) in personnel exposed occupartionally to RFs and MWs (Szmigielski et al., 1988) encouraged us to continue the prospective analysis of morbidity and extend the observation period for the years 1980–1985. In 1996 the joint analysis covering the 15- year period of 1971–1985 has been published (Szmigielski, 1996). It has been found that the subpopulation of about 3–4% which had a documented occupational exposure to RF/MW radiation developed about 9% of all malignancies, giving the OER (Observed/Exposed Ratio) of 2.1–3.1, depending on year of analysis. This difference in cancer morbidity related only to particular types of malignancies and still more, the retrospective analysis did not allow for precise assessment of past RF/MW exposure intensity (dosis). Therefore, at that time the search for possible relations between cancer morbity (risks) and levels of the RF/MW exposure was not possible. Additionally, we were aware that the analysis was based on generally low number of registered cases of neoplasms and both increasing size of the RF/MW-exposed population and longer period of observation has been postulated, before final conclusions can be obtained. |
