VIRAL CONTACTS CONFOUND STUDIES OF CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA AND HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION-LINES

Studies of childhood leukemia have reported a link with residential pr oximity to electric utility facilities. This paper elaborates on the h ypothesis that residential proximity to electric utility transmission- systems is a surrogate for viral contacts, a potential confounder in t hese studies. While the causal implications of increased viral contact s is not established, the assumption made here is that a significant c omponent of childhood leukemia has an infectious etiology. Increased v iral contacts can result from residential mobility, being first born, or use of community childcare facilities. Re-analysis of existing stud ies should look specifically for the interaction between childhood leu kemia, markers for viral contacts (e.g., residential mobility, birth o rder, use of outside childcare facilities), and residential proximity to high-voltage transmission lines. New study designs should include p arameters to test directly for a virus-related infectious model for ch ildhood leukemia.