ID Number		186
Study Type		Epidemiology
Model		Re-analysis of Hocking (project #185: 30-300 MHz (VHF) FM and TV broadcast tower exposure to residents in NSW Australia and correlation with cancer in children and adults)
Details		In a reanalysis of the paper by Hocking et al (Med J Australia (1996) 165(11-12):601-605) reporting increased childhood leukemia incidence and mortality with increasing proximity to TV broadcasting towers, McKenzie points out that the data are largely the result of a single "local government area" (LGA). When separate LGA's are analyzed, the majority have incidence and mortality rates similar to the main population of NSW. McKenzie et al 1998 (#1274) (Authors's abstract): Introduction: Recent findings of an apparent association between incidence of childhood leukaemia and radio frequency radiation (RFR) from television transmission antennas in Sydney, NSW, are examined. Methods: Incidence of childhood (0-14 years) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at the local government area (LGA) level is related to estimated exposure levels of RFR from television transmission antennas, using Poisson regression techniques. Results: Most of the association between ALL incidence and television transmission RFR is shown to be the result of an influential observation: one of the highly exposed LGAs contributes all the excess, while in a similarly exposed LGA childhood ALL incidence was found to be no higher than the rate expected for NSW. With the influential observation excluded from the analysis, no positive correlation between exposure to RFR and leukaemia is evident. Conversely, under the assumption of an association with RFR, the low probability of the observed incident cases in LGAs under conditions of relatively high exposure to RFR conflicts with the assumption of an effect. Conclusion: The apparent association between childhood ALL incidence and RFR radiation from television towers is weaker when an LGA-level analysis is conducted. (Aust N Z J Public Health 1998; 22: 360-367)
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Sydney, Australia
Funding Agency		NHMRC, Australia
Country		AUSTRALIA
References		McKenzie, DR et al. Aust. New Zea. J. Public Health, (1998) 22:360-367
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