Epidemiological study (observational study)

Adult cancers near high-voltage overhead power lines epidem.

By: Elliott P, Shaddick G, Douglass M, de Hoogh K, Briggs DJ, Toledano MB

Published in: Epidemiology 2013; 24 (2): 184-190

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in the UK to investigate risks of adult cancers in relation to distance and extremely low-frequency magnetic fields from high-voltage overhead power lines using National Cancer Registry Data in England and Wales, 1974-2008.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

leukemia and lymphoma: leukemia
brain tumor: brain tumor and central nervous system cancer
breast cancer: female breast cancer
malignant melanoma

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

calculation: estimation of magnetic field strength at the residential address at the time of diagnosis based on information of the National Grid about power lines (e.g., tower design, phase, historical load data for each year 1969-2008)

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	distance between residential address and closest power line: 600 - 1000 m
Group 2	distance between residential address and closest power line: 500 - 599 m
Group 3	distance between residential address and closest power line: 400 - 499 m
Group 4	distance between residential address and closest power line: 300 - 399 m
Group 5	distance between residential address and closest power line: 200 - 299 m
Group 6	distance between residential address and closest power line: 100 - 199 m
Group 7	distance between residential address and closest power line: 50 - 99 m
Group 8	distance between residential address and closest power line: 0 - 49 m
Reference group 9	estimated magnetic field: < 0.1 µT
Group 10	estimated magnetic field: 0.1 - 0.199 µT
Group 11	estimated magnetic field: 0.2 - 0.299 µT
Group 12	estimated magnetic field: 0.3 - 0.399 µT
Group 13	estimated magnetic field: 0.4 - 0.999 µT
Group 14	estimated magnetic field: ≥ 1.0 µT

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Age: 15–74 years
Observation period: 1974 - 2008
Study location: UK (England and Wales)

Case group

Characteristics: leukemia, brain or central nervous system cancers, malignant melanoma, or female breast cancer, and living within 1000 m of a high-voltage overhead power line
Data source: National Cancer Registry

Control group

selected from a range of cancers not considered to be associated with electric and magnetic fields
Selection:
- registry-based
Matching:
- year of diagnosis, region
Exclusion criteria: malignant neoplasms of lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues other than leukemias; nonmelanoma skin cancer; cancers of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, and respiratory cancers, including larynx and lung; cancers of ill-defined, secondary, and unspecified site

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	82,161	164,095

Statistical analysis method:

logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
rurality, deprivation

)

Results (acc. to author)

Overall, 7823 leukemia cases, 6781 brain/central nervous system cancers, 9153 malignant melanoma cases, and 58,404 breast cancer cases as well as 79,507 controls were included in the study.
There were no clear patterns of excess risk for adult cancers with distance between residential address at the time of diagnosis and power lines within 1000 m. For distances between residential address and closest power line (0-49 m) compared with distances of 600 to 1000 m, odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 0.82 (CI 0.61-1.11) for malignant melanoma to 1.22 (CI 0.88-1.69) for brain tumor and central nervous system cancer. No meaningful excess risks and no trends of risk with magnetic field strength were observed for the four investigated cancer types. ORs ranged from 0.68 (CI 0.39-1.17) for malignant melanoma to 1.08 (CI 0.77-1.51) for breast cancer at the highest estimated field strength (≥ 1.0 µT) compared with < 0.1 µT.
The authors conclude that the results do not support an epidemiologic association of adult cancers with residential magnetic fields in proximity to high-voltage overhead power lines.

Study funded by

Department of Health, UK
Energy Networks Association (ENA), UK

Comments on this article

Schüz J (2013): Commentary: Power Lines and Cancer in Adults: Settling a Long-standing Debate?
Elliott P et al. (2013): Rejoinder: adult cancers and magnetic fields from overhead power lines: epidemiologic investigation, not speculation
Philips A et al. (2013): Adult cancers near high-voltage power lines
de Vocht F (2013): Adult cancers near high-voltage power lines
Elliott P et al. (2013): Adult cancers near high-voltage power lines. (Author's response)

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