Volume 182 - Issue 7
Advances in childhood leukaemia
Author: Bruce Hocking
Med J Aust 2005; 182 (7): 364-365. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06739.x
Published online: 4 April 2005
Published online: 4 April 2005
To the Editor: When discussing causes of childhood leukaemia, Ziegler et al stated, “Exposure to electromagnetic fields has been ruled out as playing any significant role”. 1 They cited one large study2 in support of this statement, but overlooked two independent pooled analyses that showed the opposite. Greenland et al analysed 12 studies involving 2656 patients and 7084 controls, 3 and Ahlbom et al analysed nine studies involving 3247 patients and 10 400 controls.4 Each analysis found an association with a doubling of risk of childhood leukaemia at levels of household exposure at and over 0.4 microtesla (4 milligauss). Confounders and sources of bias to explain these findings have been sought without success. Consequently, in 2002, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 50 and 60 Hz magnetic fields as a “possible carcinogen” (Group 2b)5 even though the mechanism of an effect is not clear.
The role of magnetic fields in childhood leukaemia cannot be “ruled out”, given the substantial epidemiological evidence, the international classification of magnetic fields as a possible carcinogen, and the subtlety of gene–environment interactions. Moreover, although exposures to magnetic fields are low within most households, there is opportunity to easily prevent or treat the uncommon situations where household exposures exceed 0.4 microtesla by means of electrical engineering, household wiring and town planning.
References
- Ziegler DS, Pozza LD, Waters KD, Marshall GM. Advances in childhood leukaemia: successful clinical-trials research leads to individualised therapy. Med J Aust 2005; 182: 78-81. BABFHHBE
- UK Childhood Cancer Study Investigators. Childhood cancer and residential proximity to power lines. Br J Cancer 2000; 83: 1573-1580. CBBJDIAB
- Greenland S, Sheppard AR, Kaune WT, et al. A pooled analysis of magnetic fields, wire codes, and childhood leukemia. Childhood Leukemia–EMF Study Group. Epidemiology 2000; 11: 624-634. CBBBCCCA
- Ahlbom A, Day N, Feychting M, et al. A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. Br J Cancer 2000; 83: 692-698. i1085675
- International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC Monographs Volume 80. Static and extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields. Lyon: IARC, 2002. Available at: http://monographs.iarc.fr/htdocs/monographs/vol80/80.html (accessed Feb 2005).
Designing Housing to Reduce Overcrowding-Related Harms: Rheumatic Heart Disease as the Canary in the Coal Mine
Simon Quilty, Veronica Matthews, Angus Baumann, James Marangou, Bo Remenyi, Gavin Wheaton, Serena Morton Nabanunga, Norman Frank Jupurrurla, Simon Robinson, Steve Mintern, Cary Duffield, Joshua R. Francis, Paul C. Memmott
Australian Climate Leadership in 2026: COP-Out or Step-Up for Health?
Catherine G. A. Pendrey, Angie Bone, Aletha Ward, Francis Nona, Michelle Isles, Paul M. Kelly, Nicholas J. Talley
The impact of the Breast Screen NSW transition from film to digital mammography, 2002–2016: a linked population health data analysis
Rachel Farber, Nehmat Houssami, Katy J L Bell
Shifting focus to adolescent wellbeing and inclusive participation in the digital age
Allyson R Todd, Elena Wang, Stephanie R Partridge
The CURE Asthma roadmap
Gary P Anderson, Anthony Flynn, Phil G Bardin, John D Blakey, Shyamali C Dharmage, Paul Foster, Peter G Gibson, Adam Jaffe, Alan James, Christine R Jenkins, Sundram Sivamalai, Peter D Sly, Guy B Marks, Vanessa M McDonald, Judy Wetttenhall
Protecting public interest journalism as a public health good
Bronwyn Fredericks, Neha Lalchandani, Melissa A Sweet, Alex Cramb, Carmel Williams