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Case-control study on maternal residential proximity to high voltage power lines and congenital anomalies in France.

Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology · 1996 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5424

Using distance from high voltage power lines (HVPL) as a surrogate for EMF exposure, the odds ratio for congenital anomalies was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.45–2.03) with a 100 m cut-point and 1.25 (95% CI: 0.49–3.22) with a 50 m cut-point. The authors report a lack of a…

Study snapshot

PublicationPaediatric and perinatal epidemiology · 1996
Study typecase_control
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The literature indicates that exposure to electro-magnetic fields (EMF) may result in an increased incidence of cancer and spontaneous abortion. The aim of the present study was to determine whether living closer to high voltage power lines (HVPL) increased the risk of congenital anomalies. We studied residential exposure in any municipality in the Central-East Region of France where there was at least one residence within 500 metres of a HVPL. This was a matched case-control design. The cases consisted of all children with congenital anomalies, identified to the population-based registry in Central-East France between 1988-91. We chose two random controls, matched for birth year and municipality, for each case. For every case and control, we measured the distance from the HVPL to the maternal residence at the time of birth of the child as a surrogate for EMF exposure. Using 100 metres from an HVPL as the cut-point between exposure and non-exposure to electro-magnetic fields produced by HVPL, yielded an odds ratio of 0.95 (95% (confidence interval) CI: 0.45-2.03). Using 50 metres as the cut-point, yielded an OR of 1.25 (95% CI: 0.49-3.22). Among the 11 cases within 100 metres, there were 2 children with chromosomal anomalies, but otherwise there was no pattern in the occurrence of specific anomalies. These data indicate a lack of association between distance to HVPL and the total number of congenital anomalies. This study does not have enough statistical power to determine whether the prevalence of a specific congenital anomaly is significantly increased as a result of living near a HVPL.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typecase_control
Effect directionno_effect
PopulationChildren with congenital anomalies (cases) and matched controls in the Central-East Region of France; exposure based on maternal residence at time of birth
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using distance from high voltage power lines (HVPL) as a surrogate for EMF exposure, the odds ratio for congenital anomalies was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.45–2.03) with a 100 m cut-point and 1.25 (95% CI: 0.49–3.22) with a 50 m cut-point. The authors report a lack of association between distance to HVPL and the total number of congenital anomalies, and note insufficient power to assess specific anomalies.

Outcomes measured

  • Congenital anomalies (total)
  • Specific congenital anomalies (e.g., chromosomal anomalies)

Limitations

  • Exposure assessed by distance from HVPL to maternal residence as a surrogate for EMF exposure (no direct field measurements reported)
  • Limited statistical power, especially for analyses of specific congenital anomaly types
  • Study restricted to municipalities with at least one residence within 500 m of a HVPL
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "high voltage power lines",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Children with congenital anomalies (cases) and matched controls in the Central-East Region of France; exposure based on maternal residence at time of birth",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Congenital anomalies (total)",
    "Specific congenital anomalies (e.g., chromosomal anomalies)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using distance from high voltage power lines (HVPL) as a surrogate for EMF exposure, the odds ratio for congenital anomalies was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.45–2.03) with a 100 m cut-point and 1.25 (95% CI: 0.49–3.22) with a 50 m cut-point. The authors report a lack of association between distance to HVPL and the total number of congenital anomalies, and note insufficient power to assess specific anomalies.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure assessed by distance from HVPL to maternal residence as a surrogate for EMF exposure (no direct field measurements reported)",
    "Limited statistical power, especially for analyses of specific congenital anomaly types",
    "Study restricted to municipalities with at least one residence within 500 m of a HVPL"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "case-control",
    "high voltage power lines",
    "ELF EMF",
    "maternal residence",
    "distance-based exposure",
    "congenital anomalies",
    "France"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0,
      "reason": null
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.1996.tb00023.x
PubMed: 8746429

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