CHILDHOOD LEUKAEMIA CLOSE TO HIGH-VOLTAGE POWER LINES – THE GEOCAP STUDY, 2002–2007

Questo è uno studio pubblicato sul British Journal of Cancer il 4 aprile 2013 condotto da ricercatori francesi,  inerente la possibile correlazione tra leucemia infantile e vicinanza abitativa ad elettrodotti.

Le conclusioni sono lapidarie: incremento del 70% del rischio di contrarre una leucemia infantile per chi risiede entro 50 metri con un voltaggio tra i 225 ed i 400 Kv

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Epidemiology

British Journal of Cancer (2013) 108, 1899–1906. doi:10.1038/bjc.2013.128 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 4 April 2013

Childhood leukaemia close to high-voltage power lines – the Geocap study, 2002–2007

C Sermage-Faure^1,2, C Demoury^1,2, J Rudant^1,2,3, S Goujon-Bellec^1,2,3, A Guyot-Goubin^1,2,3, F Deschamps⁴, D Hemon^1,2 and J Clavel^1,2,3

¹Inserm, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), U1018, Environmental Epidemiology of Cancer Team, Villejuif F-94807, France

²Univ Paris-Sud, UMRS 1018, Villejuif F-94807, France

³French National Registry of Childhood Hematological Malignancies (NRCH), Villejuif, France

⁴Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE), Coeur Défense, 110 esplanade du Général de Gaulle, La Defense 92030, France

Correspondence: Dr J Clavel, E-mail: Jacqueline.Clavel@inserm.fr

Received 13 November 2012; Revised 25 February 2013; Accepted 2 March 2013
Advance online publication 4 April 2013

Abstract

background:

High-voltage overhead power lines (HVOLs) are a source of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs), which are classified as possible risk factors for childhood acute leukaemia (AL). The study was carried out to test the hypothesis of an increased AL incidence in children living close to HVOL of 225–400 kV (VHV-HVOL) and 63–150 kV (HV-HVOL).

methods:

The nationwide Geocap study included all the 2779 cases of childhood AL diagnosed in France over 2002–2007 and 30 000 contemporaneous population controls. The addresses at the time of inclusion were geocoded and precisely located around the whole HVOL network.

results:

Increased odds ratios (ORs) were observed for AL occurrence and living within 50 m of a VHV-HVOL (OR=1.7 (0.9–3.6)). In contrast, there was no association with living beyond that distance from a VHV-HVOL or within 50 m of a HV-HVOL.

conclusion:

The present study, free from any participation bias, supports the previous international findings of an increase in AL incidence close to VHV-HVOL. In order to investigate for a potential role of ELF-MF in the results, ELF-MF at the residences close to HVOL are to be estimated, using models based on the annual current loads and local characteristics of the lines.

FONTE : BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER