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Reproductive Health

Stillbirth and residential proximity to extremely low frequency power transmission lines: a retrospective cohort study

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Authors not listed · 2011

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Living within 25 meters of power transmission lines more than doubles the risk of term stillbirth.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Canadian researchers examined over 516,000 births to see if living near high-voltage power transmission lines increases stillbirth risk. They found that homes within 25 meters of transmission lines had more than double the risk of term stillbirth (after 37 weeks), though no clear pattern emerged at other distances. The study suggests proximity to power lines may pose risks during late pregnancy.

Why This Matters

This Quebec study adds concerning evidence to the growing body of research linking power line EMF exposure to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The 2.25-fold increase in term stillbirth risk for homes within 25 meters of transmission lines represents a substantial public health concern, especially given that millions of people worldwide live in close proximity to these high-voltage corridors. What makes this finding particularly troubling is that it occurred at the most vulnerable time - near full-term pregnancy when parents expect healthy outcomes. The lack of a clear dose-response relationship doesn't diminish the significance of the finding at the closest distance, where EMF exposures are strongest. This research underscores the urgent need for protective buffer zones around transmission lines and highlights why pregnant women should consider EMF exposure as seriously as they do other environmental risks during pregnancy.

Exposure Information

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

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2011). Stillbirth and residential proximity to extremely low frequency power transmission lines: a retrospective cohort study.
Show BibTeX
@article{stillbirth_and_residential_proximity_to_extremely_low_frequency_power_transmission_lines_a_retrospective_cohort_study_ce1343,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Stillbirth and residential proximity to extremely low frequency power transmission lines: a retrospective cohort study},
  year = {2011},
  doi = {10.1136/oemed-2011-100031},
  
}
DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2011-100031PubMed: 21742742

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, this Quebec study found that homes within 25 meters of high-voltage transmission lines had 2.25 times higher odds of term stillbirth compared to homes 100+ meters away. The risk was specifically elevated for late-term pregnancies.
The study found increased stillbirth risk only at distances under 25 meters (about 82 feet) from transmission lines. No elevated risk was observed at distances of 25 meters or greater, suggesting proximity matters significantly.
The researchers found no association between power line proximity and preterm stillbirths (before 37 weeks), only term stillbirths. This suggests EMF effects may be timing-specific during fetal development, though the mechanism remains unclear.
The study analyzed 516,859 pregnancies in Quebec metropolitan areas from 1998-2007, including 514,826 live births and 2,033 stillbirths. This large sample size strengthens the reliability of the findings.
The authors concluded that transmission line proximity is "unlikely to be associated with stillbirth" due to lack of dose-response pattern, but acknowledged elevated risk at closest distances requires more research to rule out causation.