Authored By:
Bunch KJ, Swanson J, Vincent TJ, Murphy MFThis is a case-control study conducted in the UK to investigate the association between the extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) from high-voltage underground cables and the risk of childhood cancer. A total of 55,525 children (cases) under the age of 15 diagnosed with childhood tumours in England and Wales were identified during the period 1962 – 2008. The cases were compared to a total of 116,815 controls matched for age, sex and the district of birth for their ELF MF exposure. The ELF MF exposure was calculated based on the distance between the nearest underground cables and the premises where the mother resided at child’s birth. The authors found no elevated risk of childhood leukaemia and no clear pattern of risks for other childhood cancers, with all levels of ELF MF exposure.
Published In:
J Radiol Prot 2015; 35 (3): 695 - 705For decades now, the question on whether ELF MF exposure is attributed to the risk of childhood leukaemia continues to be investigated. Based on some positive epidemiological findings between higher than normal MF and an increased risk in childhood leukaemia ELF MF was classified as “possibly carcinogenic for humans” in 2002 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
To date, the study by Bunch et al. is the largest epidemiological study on the effects of ELF MF exposure resulting from underground high voltage power lines. The study did not find any association between ELF MF exposure and childhood cancers. It is expected that homes near underground power lines will not have higher than normal MF.
