§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the health effects of emissions from overhead power lines, with particular reference to (i) electric and (ii) magnetic fields. [61465]
§ Ms JowellThe Department has been supporting, in part, the United Kingdom childhood cancer study, which is expected to report next year. This large study is designed to investigate childhood cancer in relation to various possible causes including exposure to electric and magnetic fields. The Department is also funding a complementary study co-ordinated by the childhood cancer research group, in Oxford, investigating cancer incidence near power lines. Other work being supported by the Department are at Bristol University, on the effect of electric fields on pollutant aerosols, and a laboratory study at Brunel University. The Department is also contributing to the World Health Organisation electromagnetic fields project.
The Department obtains advice on the health implications of exposure to electromagnetic fields primarily from the National Radiological Protection 207W Board (NRPB). The NRPB's advisory group on non-ionising radiation conducted an extensive review of the subject in 1992 and concluded that there was no firm evidence of a carcinogenic hazard from exposure that might be associated with residence near major sources of electricity supply. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment has endorsed the advisory group's report. Supplementary reports in 1993 and 1994 were published by the NRPB to take into account the results of new epidemiological studies from Scandinavia, France and Canada. Copies of the advisory group's report and the supplementary documents are available in the Library. A further comprehensive review by the advisory group is under way and will be published on completion of the UK childhood cancer study.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into aspects of exposure to pollutants under power lines, with particular reference to the work of Professor Henshaw and his colleagues at Bristol University. [61464]
§ Ms JowellThe Department is supporting several studies of the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields. One of these studies by Professor Henshaw, investigating aerosol pollutants under power lines, has been under way for a few months. No evaluation has yet been undertaken.