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Ingle ME, Mínguez-Alarcón L, Lewis RC, Williams PL, Ford JB, Dadd R, Hauser R, Meeker JD. Association of personal exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields with pregnancy outcomes among women seeking fertility treatment in a longitudinal cohort study. Fertil Steril 2020; 114:1058-1066. [PMID: 33036793 PMCID: PMC9936552 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess for the first time the potential relationships of personal exposure to magnetic fields (MF) with pregnancy outcomes among a cohort of women from a fertility clinic, addressing, through study design, some of the primary limitations of previous studies on this topic. DESIGN Longitudinal preconception prospective cohort. SETTING Fertility center. PATIENT(S) Our analysis included 119 women recruited from 2012 to 2018, who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) (n = 163 cycles) and/or intrauterine insemination (IUI) (n = 123 cycles). INTERVENTION(S) Women wore personal exposure monitors continuously for up to three consecutive 24-hour time periods separated by several weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Implantation, clinical pregnancy, live birth, and pregnancy loss. RESULT(S) The median and maximum of the overall daily mean (daily peak) MF exposure levels were 1.10 mG (2.14 mG) and 15.54 mG (58.73 mG), respectively. MF exposure metrics were highest among women who changed environments four or more times per day. Overall, no statistically significant associations between MF exposure metrics and fertility treatment or pregnancy outcomes were observed in crude or adjusted models. Effect estimates, both positive and negative, varied by outcome and the exposure metric, including the way in which exposure was modeled. CONCLUSION(S) Personal MF exposures were not associated with fertility treatment outcomes or pregnancy outcomes. Despite its limited size, strengths of the study include a longitudinal repeated-measures design, the collection of personal MF exposure data across multiple days, and carefully documented outcome and covariate information among a potentially susceptible study population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Ingle
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ryan C Lewis
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Paige L Williams
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer B Ford
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ramace Dadd
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Ren Y, Chen J, Miao M, Li DK, Liang H, Wang Z, Yang F, Sun X, Yuan W. Prenatal exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field and its impact on fetal growth. Environ Health 2019; 18:6. [PMID: 30635061 PMCID: PMC6329146 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-019-0447-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies on the effect of prenatal exposure to magnetic field (MF) on fetal growth is inconclusive and subject to some methodological limitations, particularly in measurement of MF exposure. The present study aimed to examine the association between maternal extremely low frequency MF (ELF-MF) exposure during pregnancy and fetal growth in offspring. METHODS A total of 128 pregnant women were recruited at their 3rd trimester and asked to wear an EMDEX Lite meter for 24 h to capture daily ELF-MF exposure. Time-weighted average (TWA), P50, and P75 of personal 24-h measurements were used to evaluate prenatal ELF-MF exposure. The medians of these measurements were used as cut-off points of high and low prenatal ELF-MF exposure. Fetal growth was measured by infant's birth weight, skinfold thickness of triceps, abdomen, and back, and circumference of head, upper arm, and abdomen. These measures were conducted within 24-h after birth. Generalized Linear Model was used to examine the association between maternal ELF-MF level and fetal growth indices after potential confounders were adjusted for. RESULTS Compared with girls with lower prenatal ELF-MF exposure, girls with higher exposure had a lower birth weight, thinner skinfold of triceps, abdomen and back, and smaller circumference of head, upper arm and abdomen in all three ELF-MF matrices. The differences were statistically significant for birth weight and most other growth measurements (P < 0.05). These measures had no significant difference between higher and lower prenatal ELF-MF exposure in boys except back skinfold thickness. CONCLUSION Prenatal exposure to higher ELF-MF levels was associated with decreased fetal growth in girls, but not in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Ren
- Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, Weifang Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Jianping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 779 Old Hu Min Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Maohua Miao
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 779 Old Hu Min Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - De-Kun Li
- Division of Research, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Hong Liang
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 779 Old Hu Min Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ziliang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 779 Old Hu Min Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Fen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 779 Old Hu Min Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xiaowei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 779 Old Hu Min Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 779 Old Hu Min Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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Lewis RC, Hauser R, Maynard AD, Neitzel RL, Wang L, Kavet R, Morey P, Ford JB, Meeker JD. PERSONAL MEASURES OF POWER-FREQUENCY MAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE AMONG MEN FROM AN INFERTILITY CLINIC: DISTRIBUTION, TEMPORAL VARIABILITY AND CORRELATION WITH THEIR FEMALE PARTNERS' EXPOSURE. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2016; 172:401-408. [PMID: 26705359 PMCID: PMC5204365 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Power-frequency magnetic field exposure science as it relates to men and couples have not been explored despite the advantage of this information in the design and interpretation of reproductive health epidemiology studies. This analysis examined the distribution and temporal variability of exposures in men, and the correlation of exposures within couples using data from a longitudinal study of 25 men and their female partners recruited from an infertility clinic. The average and 90th percentile demonstrated fair to good reproducibility, whereas the maximum showed poor reproducibility over repeated sampling days, each separated by a median of 4.6 weeks. Average magnetic field exposures were also strongly correlated within couples, suggesting that one partner's data could be used as a surrogate in the absence of data from the other for this metric. Environment was also an important effect modifier in these explored matters. These issues should be considered in future relevant epidemiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Lewis
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Occupational & Environmental Health Risk Assessment, Exponent, Inc., 475 14th Street, Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Building I, 14th Floor, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Vincent Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Andrew D Maynard
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Richard L Neitzel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Robert Kavet
- Electric Power Research Institute, 3420 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Patricia Morey
- Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Building I, 14th Floor, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jennifer B Ford
- Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Building I, 14th Floor, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Struchen B, Liorni I, Parazzini M, Gängler S, Ravazzani P, Röösli M. Analysis of personal and bedroom exposure to ELF-MFs in children in Italy and Switzerland. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2016; 26:586-596. [PMID: 26669849 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2015.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Revised: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the real everyday exposure of children in Europe to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs). The aims of this study are to (i) assess personal ELF-MF exposure in children; (ii) to identify factors determining personal and bedroom ELF-MF exposure measurements in children; (iii) to evaluate the reproducibility of exposure summary measures; and (iv) to compare personal with bedroom measurements. In Switzerland and Italy, 172 children aged between 5 and 13 years were equipped with ELF-MF measurement devices (EMDEX II, measuring 40-800 Hz) during 24-72 h twice, in the warm and the cold season. In addition, 24-h measurements were taken in the bedroom of children. In our study, sample geometric mean ELF-MF exposure was 0.04 μT for personal and 0.05 μT for bedroom measurements. Living within 100 m of a highest voltage power line increased geometric mean personal exposure by a factor of 3.3, and bedroom measurements by a factor 6.8 compared to a control group. Repeated measurements within the same subject showed high reproducibility for the geometric mean (Spearman's correlation 0.78 for personal and 0.86 for bedroom measurements) but less for the 95th and 99th percentile of the personal measurements (≤0.42). Spearman's correlation between bedroom and personal exposure was 0.86 for the geometric mean but considerably lower for the 95th and 99th percentiles (≤0.60). Most previous studies on ELF-MF childhood leukaemia used mean bedroom exposure. Our study demonstrates that geometric mean bedroom measurements is well correlated with personal geometric mean exposure, and has high temporal reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Struchen
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ilaria Liorni
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni (IEIIT), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano, Italy
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Marta Parazzini
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni (IEIIT), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano, Italy
| | - Stephanie Gängler
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, Switzerland
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health in association with Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Irenes 95, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Paolo Ravazzani
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni (IEIIT), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano, Italy
| | - Martin Röösli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland
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Liorni I, Parazzini M, Struchen B, Fiocchi S, Röösli M, Ravazzani P. Children's Personal Exposure Measurements to Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields in Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13060549. [PMID: 27258295 PMCID: PMC4924006 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13060549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 05/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) exposure is still a topic of concern due to their possible impact on children's health. Although epidemiological studies claimed an evidence of a possible association between ELF-MF above 0.4 μT and childhood leukemia, biological mechanisms able to support a causal relationship between ELF-MF and this disease were not found yet. To provide further knowledge about children's ELF-MF exposure correlated to children's daily activities, a measurement study was conducted in Milan (Italy). Eighty-six children were recruited, 52 of whom were specifically chosen with respect to the distance to power lines and built-in transformers to oversample potentially highly exposed children. Personal and bedroom measurements were performed for each child in two different seasons. The major outcomes of this study are: (1) median values over 24-h personal and bedroom measurements were <3 μT established by the Italian law as the quality target; (2) geometric mean values over 24-h bedroom measurements were mostly <0.4 μT; (3) seasonal variations did not significantly influence personal and bedroom measurements; (4) the highest average MF levels were mostly found at home during the day and outdoors; (5) no significant differences were found in the median and geometric mean values between personal and bedroom measurements, but were found in the arithmetic mean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Liorni
- CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, Milano 20133, Italy.
| | - Marta Parazzini
- CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, Milano 20133, Italy.
| | - Benjamin Struchen
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4002, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel 4003, Switzerland.
| | - Serena Fiocchi
- CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, Milano 20133, Italy.
| | - Martin Röösli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4002, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel 4003, Switzerland.
| | - Paolo Ravazzani
- CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, Milano 20133, Italy.
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Lewis RC, Hauser R, Wang L, Kavet R, Meeker JD. Personal power-frequency magnetic field exposure in women recruited at an infertility clinic: association with physical activity and temporal variability. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2016; 168:478-88. [PMID: 26152565 PMCID: PMC4772829 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Current epidemiologic approaches for studying exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields and the risk of miscarriage are potentially biased due to lack of attention to the relationship of exposure with physical activity and within-individual variability in exposures over time. This analysis examines these two issues using data from a longitudinal pilot study of 40 women recruited from an infertility clinic that contributed data for up to three 24-h periods separated by a median of 3.6 weeks. Physical activity was positively associated with peak exposure metrics. Higher physical activity within environments did not necessarily lead to higher peak exposures, suggesting that movement between and not within environments increases one's probability of encountering a high field source. Peak compared with central tendency metrics were more variable over time. Future epidemiology studies associated with peak exposure metrics should adjust for physical activity and collect more than 1 d of exposure measurement to reduce bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Lewis
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1835 SPH I, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Building I, 14th Floor, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA Vincent Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, M4132 SPH II, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Robert Kavet
- Electric Power Research Institute, 3420 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1835 SPH I, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Lewis RC, Hauser R, Maynard AD, Neitzel RL, Wang L, Kavet R, Meeker JD. Exposure to Power-Frequency Magnetic Fields and the Risk of Infertility and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Update on the Human Evidence and Recommendations for Future Study Designs. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2016; 19:29-45. [PMID: 27030583 PMCID: PMC4848457 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2015.1134370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes are significant public health concerns with global prevalence. Over the past 35 years, research has addressed whether exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields is one of the etiologic factors attributed to these conditions. However, no apparent authoritative reviews on this topic have been published in the peer-reviewed literature for nearly 15 years. This review provides an overview and critical analysis of human studies that were published in the peer-reviewed literature between 2002 and July 2015. Using PubMed, 13 epidemiology studies published during this time frame that concern exposure to magnetic fields and adverse prenatal (e.g., miscarriage), neonatal (e.g., preterm birth or birth defects), and male fertility (e.g., poor semen quality) outcomes were identified. Some of these studies reported associations whereas others did not, and study design limitations may explain these inconsistencies. Future investigations need to be designed with these limitations in mind to address existing research gaps. In particular, the following issues are discussed: (1) importance of selecting the appropriate study population, (2) need for addressing confounding due to unmeasured physical activity, (3) importance of minimizing information bias from exposure measurement error, (4) consideration of alternative magnetic field exposure metrics, and (5) implications and applications of personal exposure data that are correlated within female-male couples. Further epidemiologic research is needed, given the near ubiquitous exposures to power-frequency magnetic fields in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C. Lewis
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Exponent, Inc., Center for Occupational & Environmental Health Risk Assessment, 475 14 Street, Suite 475, Oakland, California 94612, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Building I, 14 Floor, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Vincent Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
| | - Andrew D. Maynard
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Richard L. Neitzel
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Lu Wang
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Robert Kavet
- Electric Power Research Institute, 3420 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - John D. Meeker
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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