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Esmailzadeh S, Delavar MA, Aleyassin A, Gholamian SA, Ahmadi A

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Authors not listed · 2019

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Women living within 500 meters of high-voltage power lines face over 4 times higher infertility risk.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This study examined 933 Iranian women and found that those living within 500 meters of high-voltage power lines were over 4 times more likely to experience infertility compared to women living farther away. Even women living 500-1000 meters from power lines showed increased infertility risk. The researchers concluded that current safety guidelines for electromagnetic field exposure may be inadequate.

Why This Matters

This research adds crucial evidence to concerns about power line EMF exposure and reproductive health. The science demonstrates a clear dose-response relationship: the closer women lived to high-voltage lines, the higher their infertility risk. What makes this particularly significant is the large sample size and robust methodology using GPS mapping to measure actual distances. The reality is that millions of people worldwide live within these risk zones near power lines, often without knowing the potential health implications. The 4.4-fold increased risk for women living closest to power lines represents one of the strongest associations documented between EMF exposure and reproductive outcomes. This study challenges the adequacy of current safety standards, which focus primarily on heating effects rather than biological impacts at lower exposure levels.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50-60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50-60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2019). Esmailzadeh S, Delavar MA, Aleyassin A, Gholamian SA, Ahmadi A.
Show BibTeX
@article{esmailzadeh_s_delavar_ma_aleyassin_a_gholamian_sa_ahmadi_a_ce4627,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Esmailzadeh S, Delavar MA, Aleyassin A, Gholamian SA, Ahmadi A},
  year = {2019},
  doi = {10.15171/ijoem.2019.1429},
  
}
DOI: 10.15171/ijoem.2019.1429PubMed: 30685773

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, this study found women living within 500 meters of high-voltage power lines (240-400 kV) had 4.4 times higher infertility risk compared to women living more than 1000 meters away, even after adjusting for other factors.
The study found increased infertility risk up to 1000 meters from high-voltage lines. Women living beyond 1000 meters showed the lowest risk, though no specific 'safe' distance was definitively established by researchers.
In this study, 14.1% of participants (112 out of 933 women) lived within 500 meters of high-voltage power lines, representing the highest risk group for infertility complications.
This research suggests yes. The study specifically examined women with unexplained infertility and found significantly higher rates among those living closer to 240-400 kV power lines, indicating EMF as a potential contributing factor.
The researchers concluded that current safety guidelines for electromagnetic field exposure appear inadequate for protecting people from hazardous effects, based on the significant infertility risks they documented near power lines.