Epidemiological study (observational study)

Childhood cancer and overhead powerlines: a case-control study epidem.

By: Myers A, Clayden AD, Cartwright RA, Cartwright SC

Published in: Br J Cancer 1990; 62 (6): 1008-1014

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in the UK to investigate the occurence of childhood cancer in relation to the proximity and the calculated magnetic field strenghts of overhead power lines.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

list: distance of child's home at birth to powerlines based on maps provided by the two area electricity boards
calculation: magnetic field strength at the child's home based on maximum load currents carried by nearby power lines in the year of birth

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	distance of child's home at birth to powerlines: ≥ 100 m
Group 2	distance of child's home at birth to powerlines: < 100 m
Group 3	distance of child's home at birth to powerlines: ≥ 75 - < 100 m (subgroup of group 2)
Group 4	distance of child's home at birth to powerlines: ≥ 50 - < 75 m
Group 5	distance of child's home at birth to powerlines: ≥ 25 - < 50 m
Group 6	distance of child's home at birth to powerlines: < 25 m
Reference group 7	magnetic field strength: ≤ 0.01 µT
Group 8	magnetic field strength: > 0.01 µT
Group 9	magnetic field strength: ≥ 0.01 - < 0.1 µT (subgroup of group 2)
Group 10	magnetic field strength: ≥ 0.1µT
Group 11	magnetic field strength: ≥ 0.01 - < 0.03 µT
Group 12	magnetic field strength: ≥ 0.03 µT

Population

Group:
- children
Age: 0–14 years
Observation period: 1970 - 1979
Study location: UK (Yorkshire)

Case group

Characteristics: childhood cancer
Data source: Yorkshire Childhood Cancer Registry

Control group

born in Yorkshire
Selection:
- registry-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- area

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	419	656
Evaluable	374	588

Statistical analysis method:

linear regression

Results (acc. to author)

Only 10 % of the cases and controls have lived in a distance of less than 100 m to power lines. 16 out of 374 cases and 21 out of 588 controls have been exposed to magnetic fields strengths of more than 0.01 µT.
No statistically significant increased risk for child cancer in the proximity of power lines was observed by both methods of exposure assessment. The authors conclude that the results indicate no association between the occurence of childhood cancer and either the proximity or the magnetic field strenghts of overhead power lines.

Limitations (acc. to author)

The results are limited by the small number of children living close to overhead powerlines.

Study funded by

Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB), UK
Electricity Council (later replaced by Electricity Association), UK
Oncology Research and Development Fund of the Leeds Western Health Authority Special Trustees, UK

Amoon AT et al. (2022): Pooled analysis of recent studies of magnetic fields and childhood leukemia
Núñez-Enríquez JC et al. (2020): Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and the Risk of Childhood B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a City With High Incidence of Leukemia and Elevated Exposure to ELF Magnetic Fields
Crespi CM et al. (2019): Childhood leukemia risk in the California Power Line Study: Magnetic fields versus distance from power lines
Swanson J et al. (2019): Changes over time in the reported risk for childhood leukaemia and magnetic fields
Kheifets L et al. (2017): Residential magnetic fields exposure and childhood leukemia: a population-based case-control study in California
Bunch KJ et al. (2016): Epidemiological study of power lines and childhood cancer in the UK: further analyses
Crespi CM et al. (2016): Childhood leukaemia and distance from power lines in California: a population-based case-control study
Tabrizi MM et al. (2015): Increased risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by prenatal and postnatal exposure to high voltage power lines: a case control study in Isfahan, Iran
Salvan A et al. (2015): Childhood Leukemia and 50 Hz Magnetic Fields: Findings from the Italian SETIL Case-Control Study
Tabrizi MM et al. (2015): Role of electromagnetic field exposure in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and no impact of urinary alpha-amylase - a case control study in Tehran, Iran
Pedersen C et al. (2015): Residential exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and risk of childhood leukaemia, CNS tumour and lymphoma in Denmark
Leitgeb N (2015): Synoptic Analysis Clarifies Childhood Leukemia Risk from ELF Magnetic Field Exposure
Swanson J et al. (2014): Childhood cancer and exposure to corona ions from power lines: an epidemiological test
Bunch KJ et al. (2014): Residential distance at birth from overhead high-voltage powerlines: childhood cancer risk in Britain 1962-2008
Zhao L et al. (2014): Magnetic fields exposure and childhood leukemia risk: a meta-analysis based on 11,699 cases and 13,194 controls
Pedersen C et al. (2014): Distance from residence to power line and risk of childhood leukemia: a population-based case-control study in Denmark
Sermage-Faure C et al. (2013): Childhood leukaemia close to high-voltage power lines--the Geocap study, 2002-2007
Schüz J et al. (2012): Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an international follow-up study
Jirik V et al. (2012): Association between Childhood Leukaemia and Exposure to Power-frequency Magnetic Fields in Middle Europe
Swanson J et al. (2012): Could the geomagnetic field be an effect modifier for studies of power-frequency magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia?
Wünsch Filho V et al. (2011): Exposure to magnetic fields and childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sohrabi MR et al. (2010): Living near overhead high voltage transmission power lines as a risk factor for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case-control study
Kroll ME et al. (2010): Childhood cancer and magnetic fields from high-voltage power lines in England and Wales: a case-control study
Kheifets L et al. (2010): Pooled analysis of recent studies on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia
Malagoli C et al. (2010): Risk of hematological malignancies associated with magnetic fields exposure from power lines: a case-control study in two municipalities of northern Italy
Draper G et al. (2005): Childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage power lines in England and Wales: a case-control study
Bianchi N et al. (2000): Overhead electricity power lines and childhood leukemia: a registry-based, case-control study
Greenland S et al. (2000): A pooled analysis of magnetic fields, wire codes, and childhood leukemia. Childhood Leukemia-EMF Study Group
Ahlbom A et al. (2000): A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia
Angelillo IF et al. (1999): Residential exposure to electromagnetic fields and childhood leukaemia: a meta-analysis
UK Childhood Cancer Study Investigators (1999): Exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields and the risk of childhood cancer
Michaelis J et al. (1998): Combined risk estimates for two German population-based case-control studies on residential magnetic fields and childhood acute leukemia
Tynes T et al. (1997): Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer in Children Residing Near Norwegian High-Voltage Power Lines
Linet MS et al. (1997): Residential exposure to magnetic fields and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children
Feychting M et al. (1993): Magnetic fields and cancer in children residing near Swedish high-voltage power lines
Verkasalo PK et al. (1993): Risk of cancer in Finnish children living close to power lines
Olsen J et al. (1993): Residence near high voltage facilities and risk of cancer in children