Epidemiological study (observational study)

Electrical power lines and childhood leukemia: a study from Greece epidem.

By: Petridou E, Trichopoulos D, Kravaritis A, Pourtsidis A, Dessypris N, Skalkidis Y, Kogevinas M, Kalmanti M, Koliouskas D, Kosmidis H, Panagiotou JP, Piperopoulou F, Tzortzatou F, Kalapothaki V

Published in: Int J Cancer 1997; 73 (3): 345-348

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

A nationwide case-control study was conducted in Greece to investigate the association between exposure to extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) and childhood leukemia.

Further details

Exposure was assessed by calculating three EMF metrics: voltage (U) of each of the two closest transmission lines divided by distance (d), voltage divided by the square of distance and voltage divided by the cube of the distance. Furthermore, five groups of wire code categories accommodated to the conditions in Greece were assigned: 400 kV and 150 kV transmission lines were considered very high voltage, 66 kV high voltage, 15 - 22 kV medium voltage, 6.6 kV medium-low voltage, and 0.4 kV low voltage.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

childhood leukemia

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- power transmission line
- residential

Assessment

wire code: accommodated to conditions in Greece
calculation: distance between the center of residence and the 2 closest transmission or distribution lines up to 100 m

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	EMF metric U/d: < 11.7 V/m
Group 2	EMF metric U/d: 11.7 - < 40 V/m
Group 3	EMF metric U/d: 40 - < 150 V/m
Group 4	EMF metric U/d: 150 - < 500 V/m
Group 5	EMF metric U/d: ≥ 500 V/m
Reference group 6	EMF metric U/d²: < 0.4 V/m²
Group 7	EMF metric U/d²: 0.4 - < 2.3 V/m²
Group 8	EMF metric U/d²: 2.3 - < 4.2 V/m²
Group 9	EMF metric U/d²: 4.2 - < 25 V/m²
Group 10	EMF metric U/d²: ≥ 25 V/m²
Reference group 11	EMF metric U/d³: < 0.02 V/m³
Group 12	EMF metric U/d³: 0.02 - < 0.4 V/m³
Group 13	EMF metric U/d³: 0.4 - < 0.5 V/m³
Group 14	EMF metric U/d³: 0.5 - < 3.2 V/m³
Group 15	EMF metric U/d³: ≥ 3.2 V/m³
Group 16	wire code: very high voltage
Group 17	wire code: high voltage
Group 18	wire code: medium voltage
Group 19	wire code: medium-low voltage
Group 20	wire code: low voltage

Population

Group:
- children
Age: 0–14 years
Observation period: 1993 - 1994
Study location: Greece

Case group

Characteristics: childhood leukemia, bone-marrow confirmed
Data source: nationwide network of childhood hematologists-oncologists of Greece

Control group

Selection:
- hospital-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- area
- case:control = 1:2

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	153	-
Participants	153	245
Evaluable	117	202

Statistical analysis method:

conditional logistic regression

Results (acc. to author)

None of the four different exposure measures indicated a statistically significant trend for increase in childhood leukemia risk with increasing exposure level. The authors concluded that the results did not support a causal link between residential proximity to electrical power lines and the risk for childhood leukemia.

Study funded by

European Programme "Europe Against Cancer"
European Union (EU)/European Commission

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