2001 "Leukaemia is linked to pylons, says watchdog" Children living near power lines run an increased risk of developing leukaemia, a new study indicates. Sir Richard Doll, the epidemiologist who established the link between smoking and lung cancer in the 1960s, is expected to announce at a press conference tomorrow that there is evidence to connect electromagnetic fields and the incidence of cancer. It will be the first time that government advisers have acknowledged an association between cancer and high-voltage power lines. But they will say more research is needed before any causal link can be proved. There have long been fears that the magnetic fields around electricity cables can cause cancers in children and adults living near by. The controversy has been stoked by a series of conflicting studies in the past few years. Until now, Sir Richard has said the suspicions are unfounded. But yesterday Professor Colin Blakemore, a member of the advisory group headed by Sir Richard, said a link now had to be recognised and investigated further to see if planning rules had to be changed. "The evidence is that there is a slightly elevated risk of cancer near to power lines. We are going to acknowledge that evidence exists indicating an association between power lines and cancer," Professor Blakemore was reported as saying. Sir Richard is chairman of a scientific panel which advises the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPD), the Government's radiation watchdog. The panel's report, which was requested by the Government, has been compiled following months of analysis of the incidence of cancer and exposure to electromagnetic fields. Last night a Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We have already commissioned further research. We welcome this new report and will study the outcomes in depth as well as any recommendations made by the NRPD." More than 23,000 homes in Britain have been built under or near power lines and the official acknowledgement of a weak link will reignite campaigns on behalf of thousands of families. Professor Denis Henshaw of the University of Bristol, who says his own research supports a link between electricity power lines and cancers in all ages, said: "This appears to be a profound change in the official position. "This report could be just the tip of the iceberg. The problem could be a lot wider than just childhood leukaemia." By Lorna Duckworth, Social Affairs Correspondent 5 March 2001 The Independent -------------------------------------------------- 2003 UK plans to lower EMF limits The exposure of people in the UK to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) should be cut significantly, the government's radiation advisers say. Denis Henshaw, professor of physics at the University of Bristol, told BBC News Online: "The adoption by the NRPB of a precautionary approach to EMF exposures is to be welcomed. "In the case of new installations (power lines, sub-stations, etc.) this needs to result in public exposures well below 0.4 microTeslas, the level at which a doubling of the risk of childhood leukaemia has been seen. "This should also protect against increased risk of adult brain cancer, miscarriage and a number of other adverse health outcomes. "In the case of existing installations the adoption of the Icnirp exposure limit of 100 microTeslas still leaves people living near high-voltage power lines potentially exposed to magnetic field levels of several or even tens of microTeslas, well above the levels where adverse health effects have been reported. "Future consideration will need to be given to reducing exposures with respect to existing installations." 02 May 2003 By Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2992921.stm ------------------------------------------------- Later - still delaying to 2007 (latest) www.perceptions.couk.com/wydelay.txt "Perceptions" note - try checking corrupt "Radiation Protection" bodies' performance so far - www.perceptions.couk.com/greatest.html#stewart ------------------------------------------------- FURTHER REFERENCES GO - "search perceptions" - in SEARCH-ENGINE file-ID www.perceptions.couk.com/uef/lecy.txt