SECTION: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

LENGTH: 536 words

HEADLINE: Studies find electromagnetic waves affect childhood leukemia

DATELINE: TOKYO, Aug. 24

BODY:
A midterm analysis of survey results research institutes compiled by Saturday has found a correlation between childhood leukemia and infrasonic electromagnetic waves.

According to the analysis, children who are often exposed to such electromagnetic waves, emitted from high-voltage power lines and some household appliances, are on average more than twice as likely to get leukemia.

The report was compiled by institutions such as the National Institute for Environmental Studies and the National Cancer Center, in a three-year survey project carried out by the then Science and Technology Agency from fiscal 1999. It is Japan's first nationwide epidemiological study into the correlation between electromagnetic waves and childhood leukemia.

A final analysis of the survey results will be made by the end of the year. An analysis is also being made on the correlation between electromagnetic waves and brain tumors in children.

According to the report, children who lived in areas where infrasonic electromagnetic waves were more than four times stronger than normal were twice as likely to get leukemia.

Though such environments are exceptional, the report may prompt the government to consider establishing health guidelines and measures to cope with infrasonic electromagnetic waves.

The report was based on surveys conducted on 700 healthy children and 350 children with leukemia. The children were aged up to 15.

Statistical analysis was conducted on data such as the amount of infrasonic electromagnetic waves in children's rooms measured in a week, the use of household appliances, the distance between the rooms and outside power lines, and the overall strength of such electromagnetic waves in the household.

The results indicated that when an infrasonic electromagnetic wave exceeds the average of 0.1 microtesla (1 mG) seen in everyday life to 0.4 microtesla (4 mG) or more, the chance of getting leukemia is likely to double.

Infrasonic electromagnetic waves with wavelengths of 1,000 kilometers or longer are emitted from personal computers and other household appliances as well as from high-voltage power lines. Cell phones and microwave ovens emit high frequency electromagnetic waves with wavelengths of 10 to 100 meters.

Experts have been especially interested in the health effects of infrasonic electromagnetic waves since a report in 1976 in the United States indicated the risks of childhood leukemia were high where children lived near high-voltage power lines.

Many countries have since conducted epidemiological studies, but their results have been mixed and inconclusive on whether electromagnetic waves affect childhood leukemia.

Some experts say the recent report is no cause for alarm. Hiroyoshi Otsuki, a journalist knowledgeable in electromagnetic wave issues, said most people live away from hazardous environments.

'It is difficult to imagine an ordinary household that has electromagnetic waves of 0.4 microtesla (4mG) or more,' Otsuki said. 'I wonder whether the results of this survey alone make it all right to say there are direct effects on ordinary people.'

He said he thinks most people are unlikely to be affected and that there is no need to become overly concerned.

LOAD-DATE: August 24, 2002