§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the role of overhead powerlines in causing breast cancer. [12068]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department obtains advice on the possible health implications of exposure to electromagnetic fields, including those associated with power lines, from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). The board of NRPB has set up an independent advisory group on non-ionising radiation (AGNIR)
to review work on the biological effects of non-ionising radiation relevant to human health and to advise on research priorities".In March this year, the NRPB's advisory group on non-ionising radiation (AGNIR) published a report on the potential risks of cancer from extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. Overall AGNIR concluded that
Laboratory experiments have provided no good evidence that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields are capable of producing cancer, nor do human epidemiological studies suggest that they cause cancer in general".In June, the International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) based in Lyon, France brought together an international team of experts to review the evidence for the possible carcinogenic effects of exposure to static and extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields. The IARC working group evaluated ELF magnetic fields as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" based on the statistical association of higher level residential ELF magnetic fields with increased risk of childhood leukaemia. In contrast, there is no consistent evidence that residential or occupational exposures of adults to power frequency magnetic fields increase the risk for any kind of cancer.
§ Mr. StevensonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the California Health Department report on the possible health risks associated with power frequency electric and magnetic fields published in April 2001. [12385]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department obtains advice on the possible health implications of exposure to electromagnetic fields, including those associated with power lines, from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). The NRPB's independent advisory group on non-ionising radiation was set up
to review work on the biological effects of non-ionising radiation relevant to human health and to advise on research priorities".In March this year the advisory group reported that there is some epidemiological evidence that prolonged exposure to higher levels of exposure to power frequency magnetic fields is associated with a small risk of leukaemia in children but this is, however, not conclusive. They also noted that laboratory studies and human adult studies do not suggest that they cause cancer in general.
475WThis view has been supported by a similar opinion expressed in a recent review of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and cancer by the International Agency for Research in Cancer, which classified extremely low frequency magnetic fields as "possibly carcinogenic" on the basis of the statistical association noted for children.
The advisory group discussed the report from the California Department of Health Sciences on possible risks from exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields at its meeting on 30 October 2001. The group has commented that they know of no further scientific evidence published since their most recent report that would alter their opinion regarding evidence concerning exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields and the risks of cancer as set out in their published reviews. They noted, however, that the California report also examined the possible effects of power frequency electromagnetic fields on a number of other diseases. NRPB is shortly to publish a review by the advisory group on electromagnetic fields and neurodegenerative diseases.