Residential exposure to magnetic field due to high-voltage power lines and childhood leukemia risk in mainland France - GEOCAP case-control study

Abstract

Category: Epidemiology Tags: childhood leukemia, magnetic fields, high-voltage power lines, epidemiology, ELF-MF, acute leukemia, residential exposure DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121638 URL: sciencedirect.com Overview Environmental exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) has been suspected as a risk factor for childhood acute leukemia (AL), and has been classified as a possible carcinogen. However, results from recent epidemiological studies have been heterogeneous. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of acute leukemia in children exposed to ELF-MF by living close to high-voltage overhead power lines (HVOL) in France. Methods - Inclusion of 4,117 AL cases under 15 years diagnosed between 2002-2010 - 44,838 contemporary controls representative of the French pediatric population, from the national registry-based GEOCAP study - Assessment of distance to the nearest 63-400kV and 225-400kV HVOL - ELF-MF exposure calculated at geocoded addresses considering HVOL characteristics - Logistic regression models adjusted for age to estimate odds-ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals - Sensitivity analyses to account for geocoding error and potential confounders Findings - 0.7% of controls lived within 50 meters of HVOL - 0.3% of controls were exposed to >0.3 μT - Living within 50 meters of HVOL was associated with increased risk of AL for children under 5 (OR=1.6 [1.0-2.7]) - This association was stronger when restricted to high-quality geocoded addresses (OR=3.2 [1.3-7.9]) - ELF-MF exposure itself (= 0.3 μT) was not associated with increased AL risk (OR=0.6 [0.3-1.3]) - Results were stable in all sensitivity analyses Conclusion This study brings new evidence that ELF-MF exposure is probably not associated with increased risk of childhood acute leukemia. Nonetheless, proximity to high-voltage power lines (within 50 meters) remains associated with an increased risk for children under 5, suggesting that other factors associated with living near power lines could contribute to leukemia risk. The connection between residential EMF exposure and health risks cannot be ruled out and warrants further research and precaution.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In the GEOCAP registry-based case-control study (4,117 cases; 44,838 controls), living within 50 m of high-voltage overhead power lines was associated with increased odds of acute leukemia among children under 5 (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.7), and the association was stronger when restricted to high-quality geocoded addresses (OR=3.2, 95% CI 1.3–7.9). Modeled ELF-MF exposure >0.3 μT was not associated with increased acute leukemia risk (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.3–1.3).

Outcomes measured

• childhood acute leukemia (AL) risk

Limitations

• Exposure metrics include both proximity to HVOL and modeled ELF-MF; the abstract indicates proximity associations may reflect other factors correlated with living near power lines rather than ELF-MF itself.
• Very small proportions of controls were close to HVOL (0.7% within 50 m) or exposed to >0.3 μT (0.3%), implying limited numbers in higher-exposure categories.
• Models were adjusted for age; other confounder adjustment is not specified beyond sensitivity analyses for potential confounders and geocoding error.

Suggested hubs

• power-lines-elf (0.95)
  Study evaluates residential proximity to high-voltage overhead power lines and modeled ELF magnetic fields in relation to childhood leukemia.

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    "study_type": "case_control",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "high-voltage overhead power lines (HVOL)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Children under 15 years in mainland France (acute leukemia cases diagnosed 2002–2010)",
    "sample_size": 48955,
    "outcomes": [
        "childhood acute leukemia (AL) risk"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In the GEOCAP registry-based case-control study (4,117 cases; 44,838 controls), living within 50 m of high-voltage overhead power lines was associated with increased odds of acute leukemia among children under 5 (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.7), and the association was stronger when restricted to high-quality geocoded addresses (OR=3.2, 95% CI 1.3–7.9). Modeled ELF-MF exposure >0.3 μT was not associated with increased acute leukemia risk (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.3–1.3).",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure metrics include both proximity to HVOL and modeled ELF-MF; the abstract indicates proximity associations may reflect other factors correlated with living near power lines rather than ELF-MF itself.",
        "Very small proportions of controls were close to HVOL (0.7% within 50 m) or exposed to >0.3 μT (0.3%), implying limited numbers in higher-exposure categories.",
        "Models were adjusted for age; other confounder adjustment is not specified beyond sensitivity analyses for potential confounders and geocoding error."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "childhood leukemia",
        "acute leukemia",
        "ELF-MF",
        "extremely low frequency magnetic fields",
        "high-voltage power lines",
        "HVOL",
        "residential exposure",
        "GEOCAP",
        "case-control",
        "France",
        "distance to power lines",
        "geocoding"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
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            "slug": "power-lines-elf",
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            "reason": "Study evaluates residential proximity to high-voltage overhead power lines and modeled ELF magnetic fields in relation to childhood leukemia."
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}

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