Possible Health Effects of Exposure to Residential Electric and Magnetic Fields (1997) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
7 Research Needs and Research Agenda
7 Research Needs and Research Agenda
Pages 200-208
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From page 200... ...
From the beginning, epidemiologic evidence has been at the forefront of the concerns with possible health effects of magnetic fields. In the committee's review of the epidemiologic data, the research was found to show patterns 200
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With respect to the spot measurements of magnetic fields, if the results of the other exposure metrics are not spurious, two obvious potential explanations exist. First, the surrogate exposure metrics (wire codes, distances from power lines, and calculated fields)
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That is not to argue for simply conducting more studies to reach consensus, but rather to design studies, some of a purely methodologic nature, that can address the specific gaps in our understanding. Wire Codes and Childhood Cancer Although the committee has concluded that an association probably exists between living in homes with high wire codes and childhood cancer, the epidemiologic evidence is not entirely persuasive for two reasons: potential control-selection bias and imprecision due to the modest number of homes within the highwire-code categories.
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From page 203... ...
Obviously, the desire for a better understanding of the causes of childhood cancer extends far beyond the scope of the health effects of electric and magnetic fields. Wire Codes and Magnetic Fields In addition to the more engineering-based questions regarding sources of magnetic fields in the environment and the role of power lines as a source (see following section on exposure and physical interactions)
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From page 204... ...
Studies of Magnetic Fields from Sources Other Than Power Lines Evidence that sources of fields other than those from power lines are related to childhood cancer would provide convergent evidence and strongly bolster the hypothesis that it is actually the magnetic fields associated with wire codes that influence childhood cancer risk. Other sources of exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the home, such as appliances, or sources outside the home, such as those encountered in schools, could have different potential confounders and other methodologic issues, and observed associations would be unlikely to suffer from the same validity concerns as the associations of power lines and cancer in previous studies.
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It seems reasonable to assume that ground currents will be greater in areas with higher wire codes or near substations (the ultimate destinations of ground return currents)
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From page 206... ...
Biologic Studies A serious barrier to acceptance of a possible weak connection between human health and exposure to extremely-low-frequency electric and magnetic fields in residences is the absence of a plausible physical mechanism to account for such a connection. Because any biologic effect of exposure to electric or magnetic fields at residential field strengths is, at best, at the margins of detectability, laboratory experiments to identify such a mechanism at those field strengths appear not to be feasible.
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From page 207... ...
Additional research could clarify the molecular mechanisms involved. Better understanding of these mechanisms might allow design of electric and magnetic-field treatments for other conditions, such as osteoporosis, and lend insight into understanding possible interactive mechanisms that might result in adverse health effects of such exposure.
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This program is an important part of the research strategy for resolving the issues related to the possible biologic effects of magnetic-field exposure. The work supported by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 is not anticipated to answer all the questions regarding the possible health effects of exposure to electric and magnetic fields by the program's end in 1997.
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