New study finds association, but no proof on magnetic fields
There is not enough evidence to link magnetic fields to cancer in electric utility workers, says a new report to be published next month in the American Journal of Epidemiology. After studying 223,000 electric utility worker records dating back to 1970, three scientists funded by Hydro Quebec, Ontario Hydro and Electricite de France determined that in nearly all cases, not enough evidence existed to link magnetic waves with the 4,151 cases of cancer that occurred among the workers. Of 32 types of cancers identified, three were found to be a possible connection with magnetic waves: Acute non-lymphoid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia and astrocytoma (a type of brain cancer). The case for a connection between magnetic waves and astrocytoma is shaky because the study's findings for this cancer were based only on five cases. The evidence linking leukemia and magnetic waves is stronger. One of the researchers most interesting findings is that there was no statistical consistency among the three utilities. As a result, they cautioned, the present results are not necessarily evidence of an association between magnetic waves and cancer. More research needs to be done to explain why leukemia rates were higher at one utility than the others.
- OSTI ID:
- 7123580
- Journal Information:
- Energy Daily; (United States), Vol. 22:61; ISSN 0364-5274
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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