Blood Cancer &
 Leukemia

Leukemia Cancer News - Return to Menu

High voltage power lines could cause leukemia: Study

Author : Emma Price
News Category : Health

04 June 2005 - LONDON: Scientists have found corroborating evidence to show that children exposed to high voltage power lines are at a higher risk of contracting leukemia -- the cancer of immature white blood cells and the most common form of cancer among children.

The study, done by Childhood Cancer Research Group at Oxford and the National Grid Transco, collected data on childhood cancers between 1962 and 1995 and compared it with records of houses where the children were born. The team examined 9,700 cases of leukemia reported during this period and based on projections, concluded that living within 200 meters of a power line is linked to a 70 per cent increase in risk, and living within 600 meters to a 23 per cent increase. The findings have been reported in the British Medical Journal.

The team, led by Gerald Draper of the University of Childhood Cancer Research Group, and including John Swanson, scientific adviser to National Grid Transco Plc, however, cautioned that while increased incidence of leukemia in children whose home address at birth was within 200 meters of a power line, has been found, it cannot be proved that proximity to the power lines was the cause.

"There is an association between childhood leukemia and proximity of home address at birth to high voltage power lines," the scientists said. But there is no satisfactory explanation for the results in terms of the power lines' magnetic fields directly causing the cancer.

"The findings are not supported by convincing laboratory data .... We emphasise again the uncertainty about whether this statistical association represents a causal relation," the study said.

The team reiterated that there are no accepted biological reasons for the results and that they may, therefore, be chance. It could also be due to environments where the pylons are located.

Worldwide, one in every 2,000 children gets afflicted by leukemia before the age of 15, the disease setting between the age of 2 and 4 years. A large majority of these cases can be successfully handled.

The study had begun in 1997 and covered 29,000 children in England and Wales.

The power lines involved are described as major transmission lines on steel pylons, often carrying 275,000 volts power.

There are other studies suggesting that low frequency magnetic fields, including those created by power generation, could possibly cause cancer.

There are around 7,000 kilometer of high voltage power lines transmitting electricity across England and Wales and 21,800 steel pylons.

Raising Sails and Hopes -- Leukemia Cup Returns to Area for Sixth Season

Daniel Fayen

June 16, 2005 - It's all about the gift of giving and the joy of sailing. That's the spirit of Boothbay Harbor's Leukemia Cup celebrating its sixth season on July 16 and 17. The Leukemia Cup, since its official 1993 inception in Annapolis, Maryland has become the country's largest charity sailing event.

Proceeds from the two days of sailing races, hosted by the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club, support leukemia and lymphoma research and provides assistance for patients and families coping with blood-related cancers.

In 2004, 47 sailing communities, involving 17,000 participants from San Diego to Boothbay Harbor, staged fund-raising sailing regattas which fetched $2.8 million and gave hope to the 712,000 Americans fighting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

The Boothbay region distinguished itself last year with a magnificently run regatta and a tremendously generous outpouring of local sponsors and supporters. The 2004 regatta raised $135,000 for the non-profit Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The local regatta's 2004 cache placed it fifth in the country for funds collected. An impressive achievement given the size of the cities and yacht clubs tiny BHYC bested and the relative recent entry of BHYC in the cup (42nd/ 2000).

"It is an amazing thing," said Joel Brightman, a Leukemia Cup volunteer, "how this community pulls together. So many people contribute goods and services to make this happen."

The local Leukemia Cup's success continues to attract the 12-year National Leukemia Regatta chairman, Gary Jobson. The world-class sailor (former 1977 America's Cup skipper) prolific author, ESPN television commentator and leukemia survivor, Jobson returns to the region for his third visit to deliver the keynote speech and award the Leukemia Cup.

The Cup is awarded to the boat crew that raises the most funds for the LLS. This year the July 18 dinner party, auction and ceremony is hosted by the Ocean Point Marina in East Boothbay (rather than the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club which has hosted the event the last five years).

The Saturday evening event features live music by "Tinpanic," a silent and live auction, barbeque dinner and the awards ceremony. "Tickets ($35.00) to the event are selling faster than any previous year," said Pauline Dion, 2005 Leukemia Cup fund-raiser and event coordinator.

"A lot of people have fun at the Leukemia Cup while supporting a worthy cause," added Dion, "The cause has additional significance in that nearly everyone who participates has a relative or knows someone who has been afflicted with the disease."

Leukemia is a malignant disease (cancer) of the bone marrow and blood. It is the leading cause of disease-related death for those under 20.

Leukemia can strike anyone. The disease affects all ages and sexes. Thus far its cause is unknown. Every day in the United States approximately every five minutes someone learns they have leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. And roughly every nine minutes another child or adult dies from one of leukemia blood-related cancers.

Leukemia research is making significant progress thanks in large part to efforts of the Cup's charity-- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.. The LLS, based in White Plains, New York, is the world's largest voluntary health organization.

The relative five-year survival rate has more than tripled in the past 40 years for patients with leukemia.

"Today children diagnosed with ALL (the most common form of leukemia in youth under 20) have a cure rate of 85 percent" said Sharon Klein, regional Leukemia Cup Director of Development for Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, "AML (common among adults) cure rate is about 45 percent.

"The Leukemia Cup attracts people possessing a passion for sailing and who want to benefit a worthy cause. Funds collected from the event go directly to patients, for example at Boston's Dana Farber Clinic or Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Hanover, and are disbursed directly to patients in need," said Klein.

"It is all about getting people better. Seeing children affected by the disease hits me the hardest," said Dion.

Each year the Leukemia Cup includes a speaker who has successfully battled leukemia from the local area.

"I'm living proof of the progress being made by science's fight to find a cure," said Rupert Neily, 2003 Boothbay Harbor Leukemia Cup Honorary Chairman. "It was a life-changing, near death experience battling leukemia.

"I am humbled by the medical care I received. I can't give enough credit to the individuals who work in oncology--the tremendous attention they give."

Besides chemotherapy treatments, Neily had to go three separate times for bone marrow transplants.

Neily's leukemia, like Jobson's, is in remission today. "I am so grateful to everyone who had in hand in my recovery. I am at their disposal, I'll do anything to help," said Neily.

This year's 2005 Leukemia Cup fund drive is well underway. "I begin preparing for the next year's cup the previous November," said Dion.

Recently a 2005 Leukemia Cup kick-off party attended by roughly 70 supporters took place at Southport's Lawnmere Inn.

"The Leukemia Cup sailing regatta (commencing Saturday, July 16) consists primarily of sailboats from Maine," said Bob Norton of the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. "In 2000, we piggy-backed the Leukemia Cup onto the pre-existing Annual BHYC Regatta (then in its 31st year). That first year we raised $17,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society."

The sailing is serious as the regatta is part of the GMORA (Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing) series.

Both the smaller sailboats, including Boothbay Harbor One Designs, Christmas Cove One Designs and J-22s, and the larger sailboats begin their races off the harbor's Tumbler Island.

Even the youngsters are involved in the regatta as they race their Optis' and 420's in their own regatta. "Last year we even had a triathlon," said Norton. Sailing Awards for the two-day 2005 Leukemia Cup Regatta will be presented at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club on Sunday evening, July 17.

For further information on the 2005 Leukemia Cup and/or tickets to Saturday, July 16 awards dinner and auction, call Pauline Dion at (207) 633-2012.

Reporter Daniel Fayen can be reached at (207) 633-4620 or at [email protected]

Site Map | Acute Myelogenous Leukemia