ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS AND CANCER IN CHILDREN RESIDING NEAR NORWEGIANHIGH-VOLTAGE POWER-LINES

The aim of the nested case-control study reported here was to test the hypothesis that exposure to electromagnetic fields of the type genera ted by high-voltage power lines increases the incidence of cancer in c hildren aged 0-14 years. The study population comprised children who d uring at least one of the years 1960, 1970, 1980, 1985, 1987, or 1989 had lived in a census ward crossed by a high-voltage power line. The c ases were diagnosed from 1965 to 1989 and were matched to controls by year of birth, sex, and municipality, Exposure to electric and magneti c fields was calculated by means of computer programs in which power l ine characteristics and distance were taken into account. No associati on was found between exposure to time-weighted average exposure to mag netic fields and cancer at all sites, brain tumors, lymphoma, or leuke mia. Cancer at other sites showed elevated odds ratios in the two high est exposure categories in some, but not ail, measures of exposure. Th is study provides little support for an association between children's exposure to magnetic fields and cancer and no support for an associat ion between leukemia and such exposure, but no firm conclusions can be drawn owing to the small numbers involved.