I gathered some of the structure to my post by watching a video interview of Dr. David Carpenter from the University of Albany discussing the health effects of electromagnetic radiation.¹ A pooled analysis of nine studies reported a twofold increase in childhood leukemia for those living near high voltage power lines.² Although other evidence does not support this substantially increased risk in childhood leukemia. A study of nearly 6000 childhood leukemia cases using geographic data to determine distance from high-voltage powerlines only supports a possible slight increase in the risk of leukemia.³ Electromagnetic radiation is all around us. However, despite the concern that it may be causing cancer, the evidence is not conclusive. A study from the UK showed that cancer incidence in rural vs. urban areas was not consistently higher in one setting versus the other.⁴

Another area of concern is with cell phones. Animal models show that cell phones (a radio frequency, very weak microwave radiation, non-ionizing radiation) can be problematic to developing brains. However, these studies have not been very reproducible. They do not consistently show abnormalities in brain development from exposure to very weak microwave radiation typical of cell phones.⁵ Multiple studies have failed to demonstrate a link between cell phone use in the development of brain cancer in humans.⁶ A potentially much more concerning exposure to electromagnetic radiation comes from medical imaging (ionizing radiation). On the high side of medical imaging radiation dosage at 20 mSv, a whole-body PET/CT scan delivers approximately eight years of background radiation in a single setting.⁷

1 Carpenter, D. Dr. David Carpenter and dr. Devra Davis health effects of electromagnetic fields. Radiation Research. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.radiationresearch.org/articles/dr-david-carpenter-and-dr-devra-davis-health-effects-of-electromagnetic-fields-youtube/. 

2 N. C. I. Electromagnetic fields and cancer. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/electromagnetic-fields-fact-sheet. 

3 Crespi, C. M., Vergara, X. P., Hooper, C., Oksuzyan, S., Wu, S., Cockburn, M., & Kheifets, L. (2016). Childhood leukaemia and distance from power lines in California: a population-based case-control study. British journal of cancer, 115(1), 122–128. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2016.142

4 2011. The effect of rurality on cancer incidence and mortality. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from http://www.ncin.org.uk/publications/data_briefings/rurality. 

5 Zhi, WJ., Wang, LF. & Hu, XJ. (2017). Recent advances in the effects of microwave radiation on brains. Military Med Res 4, 29 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-017-0139-0

6 A. C. S. (2020). Cellular (cell) phones. American Cancer Society. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://amp.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/cellular-phones.html. 

7 A. C. S. (2020). Understanding radiation risk from imaging tests. American Cancer Society. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.cancer.org/treatment/understanding-your-diagnosis/tests/understanding-radiation-risk-from-imaging-tests.html.

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