Proximity to power lines linked to Alzheimer’s

People living within 50 metres of power lines in Switzerland had higher rates of Alzheimer's disease Keystone

Researchers in Switzerland have found a link between electromagnetic field exposure from power lines and certain neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

Doctors at the Institute of Social and Preventative Medicine at Bern University used census and mortality data from 4.7 million Swiss to investigate all deaths between the years 2000 and 2005.

Using a proportional hazard model, they found that people who lived within 50 metres of high voltage electricity lines were more likely to die from Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia.

“Whoever lives within the immediate vicinity of high voltage power lines for more than ten years has a significantly higher risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease,” said Matthias Egger, the Institute’s head.

But Egger told swissinfo that an overwhelming number of Swiss, who live more than 50 metres from high voltage lines, had little to be worried about.

“The public health relevance is limited because the proportion of the Swiss population that lives within that 50 metre corridor is 0.25 per cent, which amounts to about 18,000 people,” he said. “So it’s a very small proportion of the Swiss population that’s actually exposed to that radiation within the 50-metre corridor.”

The researchers also noted that there were no consistent connections with diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease – or with Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Socioeconomic factors?

Some 20 of 9,164 people who died of Alzheimer’s disease and 50 of 28,045 people who died of senile dementia between 2000 and 2005 resided within 50 metres of high voltage lines, the study’s authors wrote.

Egger said the research team sought to establish whether the higher rates of dementia were solely the effect of exposure to electromagnetic fields or whether other factors were in play.

“That is an issue because we know that people with lower education attainment, which are also people of lower socioeconomic position on average, have a higher risk of dementia, on average,” he said.

“That’s what we know and that’s why we were concerned that this could actually explain the association that we’re seeing; because perhaps people who live that close to power lines live in less desirable neighbourhoods and are of low socioeconomic status.”

“What we also did was to look at other causes of death, which are related to socioeconomic position,” Egger said.

Researchers sought to establish whether rates of lung cancer, oesophageal cancer and liver disease – which are higher in lower socioeconomic strata – were also higher in the immediate vicinity of power lines.

“There was no increased in the risk of these causes, which indicates that probably within Switzerland, living near a power line isn’t linked to lower socioeconomic position,” Egger said.

Longer exposure, higher risk

However, the longer people lived in the shadow of high voltage lines, the more likely they were to develop dementia, scientists wrote. After 15 years, the risk was twice as high as for the rest of the population.

Egger stressed that while research indicated a relationship between electromagnetic radiation and higher rates of dementia, a causal association between the two could not be proven with data his team examined.

He nevertheless believes the link could influence power utilities in Switzerland to deliver electricity in a safer way.

A phase optimisation programme – which would distribute electricity in a way that reduces exposure to magnetic fields within the 50-metre corridor – could be easily implemented, he says.

Egger also encourages people who are worried about exposure to cut their exposure to certain electric appliances, like electric alarm clocks.

“Anything that is plugged in and that is on all the time and that is near your body is a source of this type of radiation,” he said.

swissinfo, Justin Häne

Power

There are over 5,100 km of 220-380 kV power lines in Switzerland.

Close to 700,000 people – or 9.2 per cent of people in Switzerland – live within 600 metres of these lines.

Only 0.25 per cent – or 18,000 people – live within 50 metres.

Scientists said noted that for that group, rates of Alzheimer’s were higher.

It was the first study of its kind.

Researchers added that diagnosing the Alzheimer’s was a complex process and that it would not always be noted on the death certificates of people who had suffered from early stages of the disease.

Scientists adjusted their models for sex, education level and income levels and location to major roads, where people are exposed to higher levels of benzene.

Their findings corresponded with those of a previous study of people working on electric trains.