Relation between suicide and the electromagnetic field of overhead power lines

PAPER manual Physiol Chem Phys 1979 Ecological study Effect: harm Evidence: Very low

Read original paper → PMID: 542502 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Laboratory studies have shown that electromagnetic fields similar to those from high-voltage transmission lines can produce biological effects. Surveys of the actual effects of such lines on exposed individuals usually have been hampered by complicating factors tending to blur the data. By means of a new approach, however, correlation has been established between the presence of transmission-line fields and the occurrence of suicides in part of the Midlands of England.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Ecological study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Individuals in part of the Midlands of England

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF overhead power lines / high-voltage transmission lines

Evidence strength

Very low

Confidence: 62% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using a "new approach," the authors report that a correlation was established between the presence of transmission-line electromagnetic fields and the occurrence of suicides in part of the Midlands of England.

Outcomes measured

suicide

Limitations

Only a correlation is described; causality is not established in the abstract.
Key methodological details (design specifics, exposure assessment, confounder control, and sample size) are not provided in the abstract.
Geographic restriction to part of the Midlands of England may limit generalizability.

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.2)
Involves exposure to transmission-line fields, but the abstract does not specify occupational exposure; primarily a community/geographic correlation.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "ecological",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "overhead power lines / high-voltage transmission lines",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Individuals in part of the Midlands of England",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "suicide"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Using a \"new approach,\" the authors report that a correlation was established between the presence of transmission-line electromagnetic fields and the occurrence of suicides in part of the Midlands of England.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Only a correlation is described; causality is not established in the abstract.",
        "Key methodological details (design specifics, exposure assessment, confounder control, and sample size) are not provided in the abstract.",
        "Geographic restriction to part of the Midlands of England may limit generalizability."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "very_low",
    "confidence": 0.61999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "ELF",
        "high-voltage transmission lines",
        "overhead power lines",
        "suicide",
        "ecological correlation",
        "England",
        "Midlands"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Involves exposure to transmission-line fields, but the abstract does not specify occupational exposure; primarily a community/geographic correlation."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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