Epidemiological study (observational study)

Electrical wiring configurations and childhood leukemia in Rhode Island epidem.

By: Fulton JP, Cobb S, Preble L, Leone L, Forman E

Published in: Am J Epidemiol 1980; 111 (3): 292-296

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in Rhode Island to investigate the relationship between childhood leukemia and electric power lines.

Further details

Exposure was assessed by calculation based on type of power lines and distance of residence to power lines below 45.7 m for each address. The quartile values of exposure for the control addresses was used to categorize the exposure of the case addresses into 4 groups: very low, low, high and very high.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

childhood leukemia

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

Exposure

Assessment

wire code
calculation: weighted calculation based on type of wire and shortest distance between power line and residence (below 45.7 m)

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Group 1	magnetic field: very low
Group 2	magnetic field: low
Group 3	magnetic field: high
Group 4	magnetic field: very high

Population

Group:
- children
Age: 0–20 years
Observation period: 1964 - 1978
Study location: USA (Rhode Island)

Case group

Characteristics: leukemia
Data source: Rhode Island Hospital
Exclusion criteria: living out of Rhode Island for some period within 8 years of disease onset

Control group

Selection:
- registry-based
Matching:
- birth year
- case:control = 1:2

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	155	240
Evaluable	119	240

Statistical analysis method:

Chi-square test

Results (acc. to author)

No relationship between childhood leukemia and electric power line configurations was found.

Study funded by

Lura Cook Hull Trust, USA

Comments on this article

Wertheimer N (1980): Electrical wiring configurations and childhood leukemia in Rhode Island
Bryan Jr FA (1980): Reply: "Electrical wiring configurations and childhood leukemia in Rhode Island

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