CANCER INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY AND PROXIMITY TO TV TOWERS

Objective: To determine whether there is an increased cancer incidence and mortality in populations exposed to radiofrequency radiations fro m TV towers. Design: An ecological study comparing cancer incidence an d mortality, 1972-1990, in nine municipalities, three of which surroun d the TV towers and six of which are further away from the towers. (TV radiofrequency radiation decreases with the square of the distance fr om the source.) Cancer incidence and mortality data were obtained from the then Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health. Data o n frequency, power, and period of broadcasting for the three TV towers were obtained from the Commonwealth Department of Communications and the Arts. The calculated power density of the radiofrequency radiation in the exposed area ranged from 8.0 mu W/cm(2) near the towers to 0.2 mu W/cm(2) at a radius of 4 km and 0.02 mu W/cm(2) at 12 km. Setting: Northern Sydney, where three TV towers have been broadcasting since 1 956. Outcome measures: Rate ratios for leukaemia and brain tumour inci dence and mortality, comparing the inner with the outer areas. Results : For all ages, the rate ratio for total leukaemia incidence was 1.24 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.40). Among children, the rate ra tio for leukaemia incidence was 1.58 (95% CI, 1.07-2.34) and for morta lity it was 2.32 (95% CI, 1.35-4.01). The rate ratio for childhood lym phatic leukaemia (the most common type) was 1.55 (95% CI, 1.00-2.41) f or incidence and 2.74 (95% CI, 1.42-5.27) for mortality. Brain cancer incidence and mortality were not increased. Conclusion: We found an as sociation between increased childhood leukaemia incidence and mortalit y and proximity to TV towers.