Leukaemia link risk confirmed

By CATHERINE MASTERS and NZPA

A major international review of research into the health hazards of power lines has found the leukaemia risk is doubled in children exposed to high electromagnetic field levels.

The study also found a much weaker but still significant association between occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and motor neuron disease in adults.

But in both cases it is far from clear whether there is any causal link.

In the case of childhood leukaemia, high electromagnetic field (EMF) levels were more likely to be generated in the home by wiring and appliances than by pylons, the study said.

Exposure at home depended on a range of factors, including wiring, the type of appliance and its proximity to the body and the length of time an appliance was on.

Appliances linked to high EMFs were generally those with electric motors such as hairdryers, shavers and can openers.

New Zealand cancer specialist Dr Peter Dady said the study simply confirmed others when it came to the dangers of power lines.

But although leukaemia was the most common cancer in children, it was still relatively uncommon, he said.

"So I don't think there's going to be an epidemic. But in terms of siting things like power lines, you obviously don't want to put them over schools or heavy residential areas."

As for the review's findings on hazards in the home, Dr Dady was sceptical and said the voltage in a powerline was higher than the voltage in home appliances.

"I think they're getting probably a bit theoretical. I doubt very much if they have been able to associate high can-opener use with the incidence of leukaemia ... "

The review was carried out by experts from international research bodies, including the Institute of Cancer Research in London.

They pooled the results of all previous epidemiological research into the potential hazards of EMFs and the findings are published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

The review was carried out for the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection, which publishes guidelines for the World Health Organisation, the European Commission and governments.

One of the authors, Professor Anthony Swerdlow, stressed the risk of cancer was low and said more work was needed to find out if childhood leukaemia was caused by EMF, or if it was just an association.

The link with motor neuron disease was seen in people working with electrical machinery. But he said this could turn out to be the result of electric shocks rather than EMF exposure.

nzherald.co.nz/health