{
  "id": "studies:iarc-elf-2b-2002",
  "collection": "studies",
  "slug": "iarc-2002-elf-magnetic-group-2b",
  "name": "IARC classification of ELF magnetic fields as Group 2B (2002)",
  "summary": "IARC classified extremely low frequency magnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) on the basis of consistent epidemiological associations with childhood leukaemia above roughly 0.3–0.4 µT.",
  "status": "verified",
  "lastVerified": "2026-08-12",
  "data": {
    "authors": "IARC Monograph Working Group (Monograph 80)",
    "year": 2002,
    "design": "classification",
    "exposure": "Power-frequency (50/60 Hz) magnetic fields, residential time-weighted average exposure",
    "finding": "Group 2B, driven by pooled analyses showing roughly a doubling of childhood leukaemia risk at time-weighted average exposures above 0.3–0.4 µT (3–4 mG), a level reached in only a small percentage of homes.",
    "limitations": "No established biophysical mechanism at these field strengths, and selection bias and confounding cannot be excluded in the underlying studies. Animal and in-vitro evidence was considered inadequate. The association has not been shown to be causal.",
    "weight": "hazard-classification",
    "url": "https://publications.iarc.who.int/99",
    "related": [
      "limits:who-elf-leukaemia-association",
      "emitters:transmission-line"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "iarc-monograph-80",
      "title": "IARC Monographs Volume 80: Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part 1: Static and Extremely Low-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields",
      "publisher": "International Agency for Research on Cancer",
      "url": "https://publications.iarc.who.int/98",
      "year": 2002,
      "kind": "peer-reviewed",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "who-elf",
      "title": "Electromagnetic fields and public health: exposure to extremely low frequency fields",
      "publisher": "World Health Organization",
      "url": "https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/radiation-and-health/non-ionizing/exposure",
      "year": 2007,
      "kind": "government",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "ahlbom-2000",
      "title": "A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia",
      "publisher": "British Journal of Cancer",
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10970686/",
      "year": 2000,
      "kind": "peer-reviewed",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/studies/iarc-2002-elf-magnetic-group-2b",
    "html": "https://emfbase.com/studies/iarc-2002-elf-magnetic-group-2b",
    "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/studies/iarc-2002-elf-magnetic-group-2b.md",
    "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/studies"
  }
}