Sir, – Neither of us is an expert on the aesthetic, financial or practical issues surrounding the suggested building of a large number of electricity pylons in Ireland. However, we are aware of the debate surrounding the proposals and are troubled by the assertion that electricity pylons are implicated in the cause of leukaemia.
As haematologists who spend a lot of time diagnosing and treating leukaemia we are not aware of any causal relationship between low-energy electromagnetic fields and leukaemia. Although laboratory studies have indicated that electromagnetic fields may produce adverse biologic effects they do not release sufficient energy to damage DNA and therefore it is not surprising that the majority of studies of electric and magnetic field exposure have not shown an association with increased risk of childhood leukaemia. Furthermore, it should also be remembered that an association between childhood acute leukaemia and radiation from nuclear fallout is also quite weak, as numerous studies have failed to show an increase in the incidence of leukaemia in the areas contaminated by the Chernobyl reactor accident. It is fair to conclude that the cause of leukaemia remains unknown in the vast majority of cases.
A constructive debate on the pros and cons of a new electricity grid should not be confused by spurious health claims. – Yours, etc,
SHAUN McCANN,
Prof Emeritus of
Haematology & Academic
Medicine, St James’s
Hospital and TCD,
Clanbrassil Terrace,
Dublin 8 & OWEN P SMITH,
Prof of Haematology,
Consultant Paediatric
Haematologist,
Our Lady’s Children’s
Hospital and TCD,
St Laurence Road, Dublin 4.