Health effects of power lines - Summary

There is an increase in the risk of childhood leukemia for people living close to power lines. The effect itself is incredibly small, and pales in comparison with other risks. However, it is clear that that the increased risk is not due to the power lines themselves, because the electric and magnetic fields generated by the lines are small compared to the fields generated by the electric wiring in the houses. In addition, investigation of the detected cases of leukemia showed that the residences in which the cases originated, did not have abnormal electrical fields. Quackwatch has an interesting summary of the issue.

Many years of research, incorporating many studies, have failed to link the fields from power lines with any adverse health problems. The magnitude of the effect is so small, that it would be highly desireable to devote any available funding and other resources, to more prominent diseases that impact the life of many thousands of people.

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