Reanalysis of risks of childhood leukaemia with distance from overhead power lines in the UK

Our previous study of childhood leukaemia and distance to high-voltage overhead power lines in the
UK has been included in an international pooled analysis. That pooled analysis used different
distance categories to those we did, which has focussed attention on the effect of that choice. We
re-analyse our previous subjects, using finer distance categories. In the 1960s and 1970s, when we
principally found an elevated risk, the risk did not fall monotonically with distance from the power
line but had a maximum at 100 –200 m. This weakens the evidence that any elevated risks are related
to magnetic fields, and slightly strengthens the evidence for a possible effect involving
residential mobility or other socioeconomic factors.

Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - July 9, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: J Swanson and K J Bunch Source Type: research