Living Near Overhead High Voltage Transmission PowerLines as a Risk Factor for Childhood Acute LymphoblasticLeukemia: a Case-control Study

This study aimed to investigate association of living near high voltage power lines with occurrence of childhoodacute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Through a case-control study 300 children aged 1-18 years with confirmedALL were selected from all referral teaching centers for cancer. They interviewed for history of living nearoverhead high voltage power lines during at least past two years and compared with 300 controls which wereindividually matched for sex and approximate age. Logistic regression, chi square and paired t-tests were usedfor analysis when appropriate. The case group were living significantly closer to power lines (P<0.001). Morethan half of the cases were exposed to two or three types of power lines (P<0.02). Using logistic regression, oddsratio of 2.61 (95%CI: 1.73 to 3.94) calculated for less than 600 meters far from the nearest lines against morethan 600 meters. This ratio estimated as 9.93 (95%CI: 3.47 to 28.5) for 123 KV, 10.78 (95%CI: 3.75 to 31) for230 KV and 2.98 (95%CI: 0.93to 9.54) for 400 KV lines. Odds of ALL decreased 0.61 for every 600 meters fromthe nearest power line. This study emphasizes that living close to high voltage power lines is a risk for ALL.