Applying Bradford Hill Criteria for Causation

The assignment involves analyzing the Bradford Hill criteria for causation in cancer research, focusing on the relationship between exposure to high-frequency radiations from TV towers and the occurrence of cancer. The document reviews existing research and applies the criteria to determine causation, highlighting the importance of reversibility, coherence, analogy, and specific nature in supporting the causal link.

Article and apply the Bradford Hill
criteria to determine causation

TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPLICATION OF BRADFORD HILL CRITERIA ON CAUSATION OF CANCER BY
PROXIMITY TO RADIATIONS FROM TV TOWERS...............................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................2

APPLICATION OF BRADFORD HILL CRITERIA ON CAUSATION OF
CANCER BY PROXIMITY TO RADIATIONS FROM TV TOWERS
Certain researches have concluded that long term exposure to high frequency radiations
can cause cancer and affect mortality. This causation can be analysed by using the following
principles of Bradford criteria:
Temporal relation: The symptoms of cancer are not observed rapidly. They may take time. The
exposure to several years can make severity to an extremely uncontrollable level.
Plausibility: These radiations are considered as probable human carcinogen. They lead to
generation of higher level of biochemical stress. Various organs such as eyes and skin are highly
sensitive to these exposures and they also affect immunity and circulatory system of living
beings.
Consistency: Areas which have exceeded radiation density than the safety levels, occurrence of
cancer has been alarmingly increased. It shows that there is consistent effect of radiation
frequency.
Association strength: In regions which have higher density of radiations from towers, the
occurrence rate of cancer and mortality is higher. Thus, there is influencing association in
between both the factors.
Biological gradient (Response of doses): As the frequency of RF radiations increases, they
cause more severe impact on mortality and health of individuals.
Specific nature: Exposure to these radiations have demonstrated the presence of specific types
of cancer such as leukaemia and skin cancers. So, radio frequency waves can be considered as
the cause for specific types of cancer as well as mortality.
Reversibility: In order to support the causation, trials can be conducted in regions which do not
have these towers or in which radiation emission is of minimum level.
Coherence: The harmful effects of radiations emitted by towers cannot be considered completely
different or irrelevant from raising incidences of cancer.
Analogy: This relation can be supported from the evidences of harmful effects of X-rays. The
similar radiations are produced by towers.
1
1 (Hardell, Carlberg, Hedendahl, 2018)
2. (Leach, Weller, 2016)
1

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hardell L, Carlberg M, Hedendahl LK. Radiofrequency radiation from nearby base stations gives
high levels in an apartment in Stockholm, Sweden: A case report. Oncology letters. 2018
May 1;15(5):7871-83.
Leach MV, Weller MS. What Does the Research Tell Us About the Risk of Electromagnetic
Radiation (EMR)?. Radiation Protection in Australasia. 2016;33(2):21-37.
Wood AW, Royman C, Karipidis K, editors. Non-ionizing Radiation Protection: Summary of
Research and Policy Options. John Wiley & Sons; 2017 May 8.
3 (Wood, Royman, Karipidis, 2017)
2