An alternative hypothesis for association between distribution wiring configurations and cancer: Planning phase

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6771337

Kavet, R ^[1]; Silva, J M ^[2]

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1. Environmental Research Information, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (USA)
2. Enertech Consultants, Campbell, CA (USA)

Several epidemiologic studies have reported positive associations between electric distribution wiring configurations and cancer incidence, particularly among children. According to the investigators of these studies, the results suggest a possible link between exposure to 60-Hertz magnetic fields because residential magnetic fields are correlated with wiring configurations. This report analyzes the plausibility of an alternate hypothesis to explain the epidemiologic observations, and recommends research to explore its validity. According to the hypothesis, ground return currents in plumbing service lines are associated with electric wiring configuration, and cause the release of corrosion products in tap water, whose ingestion constitutes a risk factor for cancer. To corroborate this hypothesis three conditions must be satisfied: the magnitude of the ground return currents in water pipes is related to wiring configuration, with higher currents generally found associated with homes classified in the high exposure categories; corrosion on the internal surface of water pipe is related to ac currents flowing on the pipe, with higher currents associated with higher rates of corrosion, and ingestion of water from pipes undergoing AC-induced corrosive processes increases the probability of developing cancer. The study's analysis did not uncover any critical data that would undermine the plausibility of this confounder hypothesis. 102 refs., 11 figs., 22 tabs.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); Environmental Research Information, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (USA); Enertech Consultants, Campbell, CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: EPRI
• OSTI ID: 6771337
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EN-6863
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHILDREN
NEOPLASMS
DRINKING WATER
CONTAMINATION
LEUKEMIA
EPIDEMIOLOGY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
PIPES
CORROSION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARCINOGENS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
INGESTION
POWER TRANSMISSION
AGE GROUPS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DISEASES
HAZARDS
HEMIC DISEASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
INTAKE
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
WATER
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects