A proposed explanation for thunderstorm asthma and leukemia risk near high-voltage power lines: a supported hypothesis

2018 · Harm · Very low evidence

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HarmVery low evidencePaper 2122

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

A proposed explanation for thunderstorm asthma and leukemia risk near high-voltage power lines: a supported hypothesis Redmayne M. A proposed explanation for thunderstorm asthma and leukemia risk near high-voltage power lines: a supported hypothesis Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. Published online 30 Apr 2018. Abstract Thunderstorm asthma and increased childhood leukemia risk near high-voltage power lines (HVPL) are occurrences whose mechanism of effect is not fully understood. This paper proposes and discusses a key similarity: both thunderstorms and HVPL generate a high enough electrical field in the environment to ionize nearby air and air-borne particles. I argue that the repeatedly demonstrated acute asthma response to pollen-laden air during thunderstorms is largely due to ionization of air-borne allergens, which adhere more readily and in greater quantity in the lungs than non-ionized particles. If these bind to mucous or phagocytic cells, it would enhance immune response. A rapid temperature drop and high ozone also seem to be drivers of thunderstorm asthma. This causal nexus provides strong support for the parallel situation of prolonged exposure to ionized particles near HVPL and an increased rate of childhood leukemia. Here, it is proposed that upwind carcinogens are ionized when passing HVPL and then residential and business areas. Published evidence for most steps are presented, but have not previously been published as a coherent whole, nor has it been suggested that the inhaled ionized micro-particle explanation for acute asthma may also explain development of childhood leukemia over time. The demonstrated series of events leading to increased deposition and retention of ionized particles in airways provides support for explaining both adverse health outcomes: acute thunderstorm asthma and increased risk of childhood leukemia near HVPL. Further support for this explanation of both outcomes is provided by effects of on-going proximity to highways. doi.org

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionharm

Populationchildren (childhood leukemia risk mentioned); general population for thunderstorm asthma

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · prolonged exposure (near HVPL); acute exposure during thunderstorms discussed

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The paper proposes a hypothesis that both thunderstorms and high-voltage power lines can generate environmental electric fields sufficient to ionize nearby air and airborne particles, increasing deposition/retention of ionized particles in the lungs. It argues this mechanism could help explain acute thunderstorm asthma and, over prolonged exposure near HVPL, increased childhood leukemia risk, citing published evidence for steps in the proposed causal chain.

Outcomes measured

thunderstorm asthma
childhood leukemia risk near high-voltage power lines
air/particle ionization and deposition in airways (proposed mechanism)

Limitations

Hypothesis/proposed mechanism rather than primary empirical study
Mechanism described as not fully understood; coherence of steps previously not presented as a whole

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "high-voltage power lines",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "prolonged exposure (near HVPL); acute exposure during thunderstorms discussed"
  },
  "population": "children (childhood leukemia risk mentioned); general population for thunderstorm asthma",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "thunderstorm asthma",
    "childhood leukemia risk near high-voltage power lines",
    "air/particle ionization and deposition in airways (proposed mechanism)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The paper proposes a hypothesis that both thunderstorms and high-voltage power lines can generate environmental electric fields sufficient to ionize nearby air and airborne particles, increasing deposition/retention of ionized particles in the lungs. It argues this mechanism could help explain acute thunderstorm asthma and, over prolonged exposure near HVPL, increased childhood leukemia risk, citing published evidence for steps in the proposed causal chain.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Hypothesis/proposed mechanism rather than primary empirical study",
    "Mechanism described as not fully understood; coherence of steps previously not presented as a whole"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "thunderstorm asthma",
    "childhood leukemia",
    "high-voltage power lines",
    "electric field",
    "air ionization",
    "ionized particles",
    "airborne allergens",
    "ozone",
    "highways"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Discusses exposure near high-voltage power lines, though not specifically occupational."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2018.1466309
PubMed: Not supplied

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