Proximity to power lines is associated with an elevated risk of childhood leukemia. If the association is causal, an estimated 1% of childhood leukemia cases mat be attributable to these lines.

PMID: 

BMJ. 2005 Jun 4 ;330(7503):1290. PMID: 15933351

Abstract Title: 

Childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage power lines in England and Wales: a case-control study.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an association between distance of home address at birth from high voltage power lines and the incidence of leukaemia and other cancers in children in England and Wales.DESIGN: Case-control study.SETTING: Cancer registry and National Grid records.SUBJECTS: Records of 29 081 children with cancer, including 9700 with leukaemia. Children were aged 0-14 years and born in England and Wales, 1962-95. Controls were individually matched for sex, approximate date of birth, and birth registration district. No active participation was required.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Distance from home address at birth to the nearest high voltage overhead power line in existence at the time.RESULTS: Compared with those who lived>600 m from a line at birth, children who lived within 200 m had a relative risk of leukaemia of 1.69 (95% confidence interval 1.13 to 2.53); those born between 200 and 600 m had a relative risk of 1.23 (1.02 to 1.49). There was a significant (P

read more