Abstract
BackgroundVarious mechanisms have been postulated to explain how electric fields emitted by high voltage overhead power lines, and the charged ions they produce, might be associated with possible adult cancer risk, but this has not previously been systematically explored in large scale epidemiological research.MethodsWe investigated risks of adult cancers in relation to modelled air ion density (per cm3) within 600 m (focusing analysis on mouth, lung, respiratory), and calculated electric field within 25 m (focusing analysis on non-melanoma skin), of high voltage overhead power lines in England and Wales, 1974–2008.ResultsWith adjustment for age, sex, deprivation and rurality, odds ratios (OR) in the highest fifth of net air ion density (0.504–1) compared with the lowest (0–0.1879) ranged from 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82–1.08] for mouth cancers to 1.03 (95% CI 0.97–1.09) for respiratory system cancers, with no trends in risk. The pattern of cancer risk was similar using corona ion estimates from an alternative model proposed by others. For keratinocyte carcinoma, adjusted OR in the highest (1.06–4.11 kV/m) compared with the lowest (<0.70 kV/m) thirds of electric field strength was 1.23 (95% CI 0.65–2.34), with no trend in risk.ConclusionsOur results do not provide evidence to support hypotheses that air ion density or electric fields in the vicinity of power lines are associated with cancer risk in adults.
Highlights
High voltage overhead power lines are a source of both magnetic and electric fields
We found no evidence for an association of mouth, lung or respiratory system cancers with net air ion density nor non-melanoma skin cancers with electric field strength
We identified eligible cases and controls from the national cancer register held at the UK Small Area Health Statistics Unit, Imperial College London and maintained by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (English data) and Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (WCISU).[14]
Summary
High voltage overhead power lines are a source of both magnetic and electric fields. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) designated extremely lowfrequency magnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic in humans. The attachment of corona ions to pollutant aerosol particles increases the electric charge state of the air pollutants;[7] upon inhalation, this is hypothesized to increase the probability of deposition in the mouth and respiratory tract, leading to potential for increased risk of certain cancers, in particular mouth and respiratory cancers.[7] Henshaw et al.[5] and Fews et al.[8] proposed that high electric fields at ground level in close proximity to power lines might cause an increase in deposition of radon daughter products on the skin, leading to increased risk of keratinocyte carcinoma. We examine: (i) risk of mouth, lung and respiratory system cancers in relation to modelled estimates of air ion density up to 600 m of power lines; and (ii) risk of keratinocyte carcinoma in relation to electric fields at ground level within 25 m of power lines
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