Residential exposure to magnetic fields from transformer stations and risk of childhood leukemia

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 245; p. 118043
• Main Authors: Malavolti, Marcella, Malagoli, Carlotta, Wise, Lauren A., Poli, Maurizio, Notari, Barbara, Taddei, Irene, Fabbi, Sara, Teggi, Sergio, Balboni, Erica, Pancaldi, Alessia, Palazzi, Giovanni, Vinceti, Marco, Filippini, Tommaso
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.03.2024
• Subjects: Case-Control Studies; Case-control study; Child; Childhood leukemia; Electromagnetic Fields - adverse effects; Environmental Exposure; Housing; Humans; Leukemia - epidemiology; Leukemia - etiology; Magnetic Fields; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - epidemiology; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - etiology; Risk Factors; Transformer rooms; Childhood leukemia; Transformer rooms; Case-control study; Magnetic fields; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118043

Several studies have documented an increased risk of leukemia among children exposed to magnetic fields from high-voltage power lines, with some evidence of dose-response relation. However, findings in some studies have been inconsistent, and data on the effects of different sources of exposure are lacking. In this study, we evaluated the relation of childhood leukemia risk to exposure to magnetic fields from transformer stations. We conducted a population-based case-control study in a pediatric population of two Northern Italian provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia. We included 182 registry-identified childhood leukemia cases diagnosed during 1998–2019 and 726 population controls matched on sex, year of birth, and province of residence. We assessed exposure by calculating distance from childhood residence to the nearest transformer station within a geographical information system, computing disease odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. We evaluated exposure using two buffers (15 m and 25 m radius) and assessed two case groups: leukemia (all subtypes) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Residing within 15 m of a transformer station (vs. ≥15 m) was not appreciably associated with risk of leukemia (all subtypes) or ALL. We found similar results using a less stringent exposure buffer (25 m). Among children aged ≥5 years, the adjusted ORs were 1.3 (95% CI 0.1–12.8) for leukemia and 1.3 (95% CI 0.1–12.4) for ALL using the 15 m buffer, while they were 1.7 (95% CI 0.4–7.0) for leukemia and 0.6 (95% CI 0.1–4.8) for ALL using the 25 m buffer. While we found no overall association between residential proximity to transformer stations and childhood leukemia, there was some evidence for elevated risk of childhood leukemia among children aged ≥5 years. Precision was limited by the low numbers of exposed children. •A few children may be exposed to magnetic fields due to transformer stations at home.•Transformer stations show little association with overall childhood leukemia risk.•Children aged ≥5 years might have an increased leukemia risk from such exposure.