June 13, 2003 – A laboratory experiment conducted by British researchers appears to confirm that the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that people are exposed to in everyday life do not cause cancer.
Other studies had already concluded that it is impossible to establish a link between EMF generated, for example, by power lines or household appliances, and various types of cancer, including childhood leukemia.
With most researchers believing that EMFs are incapable of directly damaging DNA, the authors of the most recent study attempted to see if these fields could prevent damaged DNA from repairing itself. As a result, even white blood cells exposed to very intense EMFs managed to repair themselves normally.
Unanimity remains to be achieved, however. As recently as 2000, Swedish researchers concluded1 that the risk of leukemia doubles in children chronically exposed to a magnetic field measuring at least 4 milligauss (see the article from PasseportSanté.net on this subject, dated January 10, 2001).
The results of the most recent study are published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to Reuters Health; June 11, 2003.
1. Ahlbom A, Day N, Feychting M, Roman E, Skinner J, Dockerty J, Linet M, McBride M, Michaelis J, Olsen JH, Tynes T, Verkasalo PK. A pooled analysis of magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. Br J Cancer. 2000 Sep; 83 (5): 692-8.
