Large study links power lines to childhood cancer
By Gaia Vince

Children living near overhead power lines may have an increased risk of leukemia but the association may not be causal, UK researchers say.

The confusing message, which comes from the largest study to date – of over 29,000 children with cancer – is that since “there is no biological mechanism to explain the higher risk”, the results, “although statistically significant, may be due to chance”.

The study – a collaboration between the Childhood Cancer Research Group at the University of Oxford and National Grid owners, Transco – looked at cancer data in England and Wales between 1962 and 1995, for children aged up to 15 years old.

They were able to map how far each child lived from a high voltage overhead power line. Comparing the children who had cancer with a control group of 29,000 children without cancer but who lived in comparable districts, found that children whose birth address was within 200 metres of an overhead power line had a 70% increased risk of leukemia. Children living 200 to 600 m away from power lines had a 20% increased risk.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7460...ildhood-cancer/
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/ju...dicineandhealth
http://news.cancerconnect.com/children-liv...sk-of-leukemia/


This study aimed to investigate association of living near high voltage power lines with occurrence of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Through a case-control study 300 children aged 1-18 years with confirmed ALL were selected from all referral teaching centers for cancer. They interviewed for history of living near overhead high voltage power lines during at least past two years and compared with 300 controls which were individually matched for sex and approximate age. Logistic regression, chi square and paired t-tests were used for analysis when appropriate. The case group were living significantly closer to power lines (P<0.001). More than half of the cases were exposed to two or three types of power lines (P<0.02). Using logistic regression, odds ratio of 2.61 (95%CI: 1.73 to 3.94) calculated for less than 600 meters far from the nearest lines against more than 600 meters. This ratio estimated as 9.93 (95%CI: 3.47 to 28.5) for 123 KV, 10.78 (95%CI: 3.75 to 31) for 230 KV and 2.98 (95%CI: 0.93 to 9.54) for 400 KV lines. Odds of ALL decreased 0.61 for every 600 meters from the nearest power line. This study emphasizes that living close to high voltage power lines is a risk for ALL.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20843128

This post has been edited by icemanfx: Oct 29 2016, 12:36 AM

https://youtu.be/0zGnfL_Cc7M

Fluorescent tubes under power lines

If you take a normal long fluorescent tube and hold it vertically under a high voltage power line after dark you will be able to see that it lights up of its own accord.
http://www.larkinweb.co.uk/miscellany/fluo...ower_lines.html

WARNING: DO NOT attempt this experiment in the rain.


This post has been edited by icemanfx: Nov 8 2016, 02:53 PM

You may have discovered a new usage for wifi router.

If you hold the tube directly under HTC but perpendicularly to HTC, the tube won't light.