Living close to power lines increases cancer risk from electromagnetic fields.
Epidemiological studies consistently report a statistical association between living near high-voltage power lines and a small increased risk of childhood leukemia, but researchers debate whether this relationship is causal due to a lack of established biological mechanisms and potential confounding.
Several epidemiological studies and pooled analyses (e.g., Draper et al., 2005; Ahlbom et al., 2000) have observed a statistical association between residential proximity to power lines (and high ELF magnetic field exposure) and childhood leukemia. However, broader reviews and safety evaluations note that there is no proven biological mechanism and that confounding or selection bias may explain the results, keeping the overall causal status contested.
The evidence we hold leans leans supported
How this was weighed
official record 3x · fact-check 2x · hedged 1x · crowd & reference 1x
- A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia · peer-reviewed · supports · weight 2 · 2000
- Childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage p · peer-reviewed · supports · weight 2 · 2005
- The Sensitivity of Children to Electromagnetic Fields · peer-reviewed · supports · weight 2 · 2005
- Residence near high voltage facilities and risk of cancer in · peer-reviewed · supports · weight 2 · 1993
- Potential health impacts of residential exposures to extreme · peer-reviewed · supports · weight 1.6 · 2013
- Epidemiology of primary brain tumors: Current concepts and r · peer-reviewed · refutes · weight 2 · 2002
- Epidemiology of Health Effects of Radiofrequency Exposure · peer-reviewed · refutes · weight 2 · 2004
Anders Ahlbom, Nicholas Day, Maria Feychting, Eve Roman, John A. Skinner, John D. Dockerty, Martha S. Linet, Mary L. McBride, J. Michaelis, Jørgen H. Olsen, Tore Tynes, Pia K. Verkasalo. A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. 2000. https://doi.org/10.1054/bjoc.2000.1376
A pooled analysis found a statistically significant increased relative risk of childhood leukemia for children with higher residential magnetic field exposures.
Margaret Wrensch, Yuriko Minn, Terri Chew, Melissa L. Bondy, Mitchel S. Berger. Epidemiology of primary brain tumors: Current concepts and review of theliterature. 2002. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/4.4.278
A review on primary brain tumors found little to support a causal connection between power frequency electromagnetic fields and brain cancers.
See more details
G J Draper, Tim Vincent, M E Kroll, John Swanson. Childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage power lines in England and Wales: a case-control study. 2005. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7503.1290
A large case-control study found an association between childhood leukemia and living in close proximity to high voltage power lines at birth.
Leeka Kheifets, Michael H. Repacholi, R. S. Saunders, Emilie van Deventer. The Sensitivity of Children to Electromagnetic Fields. 2005. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-2541
An expert report notes consistent epidemiological evidence linking childhood leukemia with exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields.
Jørgen H. Olsen, Lars K. Nielsen, Gabi Schulgen. Residence near high voltage facilities and risk of cancer in children.. 1993. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.307.6909.891
A population-based study reported a significant association between childhood cancer and high magnetic field exposures from high voltage installations.
James Grellier, Paolo Ravazzani, Elisabeth Cardis. Potential health impacts of residential exposures to extremely low frequency magnetic fields in Europe. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2013.09.017
A European assessment calculated attributable childhood leukemia cases assuming the epidemiological association with extremely low frequency magnetic fields is causal.
ICNIRP (International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) Standing Committee on Epidemiology:, Anders Ahlbom, Adèle C. Green, Leeka Kheifets, David A. Savitz, Anthony J. Swerdlow. Epidemiology of Health Effects of Radiofrequency Exposure. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7306
A comprehensive review of residential and occupational exposures found no consistent or convincing evidence of a causal relation between electromagnetic fields and adverse health effects.
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