World's Largest Study Finds "No Link Between Overhead Power Cables and Childhood Cancer"

The UK Childhood Cancer Study - the largest ever study of its kind - has found no evidence to link childhood cancer with exposure to magnetic fields from electricity supply.

The independent study is supported by the Department of Health and the main UK cancer charities and the eminent epidemiologist, Sir Richard Doll, chairs its management committee.

The authors of the study, which is published on Friday, conclude:
 
"This study provides no evidence that exposure to magnetic fields associated with the electricity supply in the UK increases risks for childhood leukaemia, cancers of the central nervous system, or any other childhood cancer."

So strong is this finding that Sir Richard Doll, the eminent scientist credited with finding the link between smoking and lung cancer, believes there is
 
"now no justification for further epidemiological studies on EMF and childhood cancer in Britain."

Responding to these findings, Dr John Swanson, Electricity Association Scientific Advisor commented:
 
"This study looked at every child with leukaemia in the UK over a four year period and found nothing to link childhood cancer with magnetic fields from electricity supply. It now seems clearer than ever before that we have to look elsewhere for the real causes of childhood cancer."

The electricity industry welcomes the findings of this authoritative and independent study and hopes that it will help to reassure any members of the public who may have concerns.

The next step is for the study to report on other possible causes of childhood leukaemia such as viral infections and the effects of radon gas.

Notes to Editors
The UK Childhood Cancer Study was set up by the UK Coordinating Committee on Cancer Research to examine five hypotheses relating to childhood cancer: the child's exposure to ionising radiation, chemicals, EMF, abnormal responses to infection, and occupational exposure of the father to ionising radiation or chemicals before conception. The EMF hypothesis was added to the study partly at the request of the UK electricity industry. The industry has contributed towards the base costs of the overall study but has had no influence over the conduct of the study.
Today's report on the magnetic field results of the UKCCS is published in the Lancet
This is a separate study to the one reported by Professor Henshaw on Wednesday. Unlike Professor Henshaw (who merely made measurements in a field under power lines), the UKCCS examined actual cases of childhood cancer. The Electricity Association has commented separately on Professor Henshaw's theories, which have been described by the Government's independent watchdog as "implausible" and "purely speculative".