RE: “CANCER INCIDENCE NEAR RADIO AND TELEVISION TRANSMITTERS IN GREAT BRITAIN. I. SUTTON COLDFIELD TRANSMITTER; II. ALL HIGH POWER TRANSMITTERS”

Extract

Following two earlier studies of hematopoietic and other selected cancers near the Sutton Coldfield television (TV) transmitter in England (Sutton Mast), continuing local concerns prompted a further study in which previous analysis was repeated and more timely cancer data were used. The first study by Dolk et al. (1) found significant declines in risk for adult leukemia, skin cancer, and bladder cancer with distance from the TV transmitter. A second study by Dolk et al. (2), in which 20 TV transmitters (including Sutton Mast) in the United Kingdom were investigated, was unable to replicate the pattern and the extent of the first study. This research letter reports on whether the results of analysis of adult and childhood leukemia around Sutton Mast in which more recent data were used are consistent with the results from these earlier studies.

Cancer data from the years 1987–1994 were extracted from the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit database (Birmingham, England). The individual cancer sites and cancer groupings (based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes) selected for the study followed those used in the earlier national study (2). The total study area was defined as a series of 10 concentric circles centered on Sutton Mast (figure 1). For all cancer sites studied, expected numbers of cases were calculated for each of the 10 bands (persons, male and female adults separately). Expected numbers of all leukemias were also calculated for male and female children (aged 0–14 years). These numbers were based on regional observed cases, stratified by 5-year age bands, sex, and social deprivation. Population data were based on enumeration districts.