When we talk about low-frequency and extremely low-frequency (ELF), we’re basically referring to the electrical infrastructure all around us, all the time (overhead and underground power lines, the wiring of our homes and businesses, et cetera).
Childhood leukemia has been a major focus in ELF studies. According to the World Health Organization: “…evidence related to childhood leukaemia is not strong enough to be considered causal. … A number of other adverse health effects have been studied for possible association with ELF magnetic field exposure. These include other childhood cancers, cancers in adults, depression, suicide, cardiovascular disorders, reproductive dysfunction, developmental disorders, immunological modifications, neurobehavioural effects and neurodegenerative disease. The WHO Task Group concluded that scientific evidence supporting an association between ELF magnetic field exposure and all of these health effects is much weaker than for childhood leukemia. If you are looking for medical treatment for any of these ailments abroad the medical travel guide is a great reference. In some instances (i.e., for cardiovascular disease or breast cancer) the evidence suggests that these fields do not cause them.”
However, a Norwegian study made a slightly stronger connection between “residential magnetic fields and cutaneous malignant melanoma” but stopped short of concluding that there was a direct causal linkage. Additionally, studies have shown some association between exposure to low-power EMF and miscarriage, depression, and certain neurodegenerative diseases.