HC Deb 20 July 2001 vol 372 cc594-5W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of evidence suggesting a potential link between pylons and skin cancer. [5430]

Mr. Wilson

The potential link between skin cancer and overhead power lines is one of several ill health effects that have been attributed to the electromagnetic fields that are produced by electrical equipment.

The Government obtain advice on the possible health implications of exposure to electromagnetic fields, including those associated with power lines, from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). In a report1 published on 6 March the NRPB's Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation reviewed the potential risks of types of cancer from extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. Their conclusion, based on laboratory experiments and epidemiological studies, is that there is no evidence that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields are capable of producing cancer.

Some evidence has been suggested that the electric fields associated with the higher-voltage power lines are responsible via indirect effects for a range of illnesses including skin cancer. These effects have been considered to arise from changes in the concentration and deposition of particles and other environmental pollutants in the presence of corona ions found in the vicinity of power lines. The physical principle for particle deposition in large electric fields is well understood. However, the NRPB has concluded that it has not been sufficiently demonstrated whether any such enhanced deposition will increase human exposure in a way that will result in adverse health effects. The difficulties with this hypothesis in relation to naturally occurring radiation have been examined in detail earlier by the NRPB and others in peer-reviewed journals. The NRPB's Advisory Group had already identified that further consideration needs to be given to the possible effects that might result from the dispersal of corona ions and the way such effects may be assessed. This work will start shortly.

1 Documents of the NRPB Vol. 12, No. 1, 2001) and copies have been placed in the Library. Information can be found on www.nrpb.org.uk