RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION AND CHILDHOOD-CANCER IN CANADA (1971-1986)

Concern has focused recently on the association between exposure to ma gnetic fields emanating from electrical equipment and the development of childhood cancer. An ecological study was undertaken to determine t he correlation over time between childhood cancer rates and residentia l electric consumption (REC) in Canada. Significant increases in REC a nd in overall childhood cancer rates (0.14 cases/100 000 children.y) a nd brain cancer (0.05 cases/100 000 children.y) were observed, but a s imilar increase in leukemia was not observed. The average of the yearl y provincial ranking of REC and cancer rates was used to determine whe ther provinces that have, on the average, higher REC also have higher childhood cancer ranks. Stronger correlations were observed between pr ovincial REC rank and brain cancer and leukemia ranks than with lympho ma and other cancer rankings. These findings are consistent with, but do not prove, a causal association between childhood brain cancer and leukemia and REC.