Exposure of children to the magnetic fields of overhead power lines, 2001
Approximately 20,000 children in the Netherlands live in the vicinity of overhead power lines. Studies indicate a possible link between living in the vicinity of overhead power lines and the incidence of leukaemia in children. It is claimed that this is caused by the magnetic fields.
Leukaemia in children as a result of living in the vicinity of overhead power lines
There are 3 million Dutch children. Approximately 20,000 of them live in the vicinity of an overhead power line where the strength of the magnetic field is greater than 0.2 microteslas. It is thought that exposure to the magnetic fields generated by these lines explains one of the 110 new cases annually of childhood leukaemia.
Policy
As part of the National Environmental Policy Plan 4 (NEPP4) (VROM, 2001), the Dutch government, working on the basis of the precautionary principle, is conducting a review of the options for reducing exposure to magnetic fields around overhead power lines. In a study of costs and benefits of future policy, the RIVM has counted the number of homes in the various areas around overhead power lines (Kelfkens et al., 2002). In that study, KEMA determined the spatial effects and the costs of technical measures.
Relevance
Foreign studies indicate a possible link between living in the vicinity of overhead power lines and the incidence of leukaemia in children. It is claimed that this is caused by the magnetic field. When the strength of magnetic fields exceeds 0.2 microteslas, there would appear to be an increased risk, with the level of risk depending on the strength of the magnetic field. It is therefore important to establish how many children in the Netherlands are exposed to various magnetic fields. The RIVM has drawn up a risk estimate based on exposure data of this kind (Van der Plas et al., 2001).
