§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the findings of the national control case 663W study of childhood cancer with regard to the effect of radon and electro-magnetic fields; and what recommendations the National Radiological Protection Board has made arising therefrom. [34053]
§ Mr. HoramThe United Kingdom childhood cancer study organised by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research commenced in April 1992, following preliminary studies from 1 January 1992 to 31 March 1992.
Field work and the collection of data are expected to be completed by the end of 1997 with subsequent analysis of the data.
The findings of the whole report will be submitted for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals. The UKCCCR will also disseminate the results more widely after publication.
§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies the National Radiological Protection Board has undertaken relating to the effects of electric railway conductors; and what were its findings; [34067]
(2) what studies of the effects of exposure to electric fields have been undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board; and with what results; [34055]
(3) if he will make a statement on the current assessment of the National Radiological Protection Board advisory group in respect of non-ionising radiation and the epidemiological evidence of a link between exposure to electro-magnetic fields and the incidence of leukaemia; what recent studies it has undertaken; and what were its findings. [34504]
§ Mr. HoramThe National Radiological Protection Board undertakes research into the effects of electro-magnetic fields on human health to support its advice to the Government and the publication of guidance. It has not carried out any specific studies relating to the effects of fields from electrified railway lines, although a review of magnetic fields associated with electrical transport has been published by NRPB which indicated that such exposure would not result in exceeding NRPB guidelines.
Of two studies on rodents exposed to electric fields, one found no significant effects on two indices of central nervous system arousal and the other found that mains frequency fields had no effect on electrical activity in the rat brain. Further studies on high-level electric fields did not have a mutagenic effect on male germ cells.
The Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation concluded in its 1992 report that human health—epidemiological—findings provided no firm evidence of the existence of a cancer hazard from exposure to power frequency EMF that may be associated with residence near major sources of electricity supply.
Following a review of subsequent findings, the group concluded that, although the studies did not establish that exposure to power frequency EMF is a cause of cancer, they provided weak evidence to suggest that the possibility exists. Recommendations for further research were made and the advisory group is currently carrying out a further assessment taking into account studies which have been published since its last report.
§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health664W what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the attraction of radon decay product aerosols to electro-magnetic field sources. [34057]
§ Mr. HoramA study has recently been commissioned to investigate the concentration and transport of radon daughter nuclei near sources of power frequency electro-magnetic fields. This is being carried out under the Department's radiation protection research programme.