Electric field and air ion exposures near high voltage overhead power lines and adult cancers: a case control study across England and Wales

Author:

Toledano Mireille B12ORCID,Shaddick Gavin3,de Hoogh Kees145,Fecht Daniela12,Sterrantino Anna Freni12,Matthews James6,Wright Matthew6,Gulliver John17,Elliott Paul128ORCID

Affiliation:

1. UK Small Area Health Statistics Unit, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK

2. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) on Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK

3. Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Exeter, Truro, UK

4. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland

5. University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

6. Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

7. Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

8. Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK

Abstract

Abstract Background Various 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. Methods We 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. Results With 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. Conclusions Our 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.

Funder

Department of Health

Neither the Department of Health

Energy Networks Association

National Grid were involved

Small Area Health Statistics Unit

Public Health England

PHE

Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London

National Institute for Health Research

NIHR

Health Protection Research Unit

HPRU

Health Impact of Environmental Hazards

Imperial Biomedical Research Centre

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

General Medicine,Epidemiology

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