Leukemia risk doubles for children living under high-voltage power lines

• Children living under high-voltage power lines could run double the risk of getting cancer, new research reportedly suggests.
• Those living within 100 metres of the cables are more likely to suffer from leukaemia, the study indicates.
• The Childhood Cancer Research Group at Oxford University studied 70,000 children under 15 for the Department of Health report, half of whom had cancer.
• The seven-year study is reported in the Times and the Independent newspapers.
• The research looked at the prevalence of high-voltage power cables near children's homes.
• Children born or living near the power lines were 1.7 times more likely to contract leukaemia than those in the control group, the research found.
• Some studies have already shown an association between some types of electromagnetic fields and increased childhood leukaemia.
• Research author Dr Gerald Draper said other research suggested power lines might account for 20 to 30 of 500 cases of childhood leukaemia each year.
• But, he said, his work indicated a far smaller number of cases were affected.
• The findings were "surprising" and prompted further research, he added.
• The Department of Health said it would not comment on the findings until Dr Draper submitted his final report.