Perspectives on health effects of electric and magnetic fields

Some epidemiological studies have fostered concern about cancers caused by electric and magnetic fields associated with distribution and use of electric power. At present, there is no scientific consensus as to which factors, the electric field and/or magnetic field, are biologically important. Similarly, there is no clear indication whether higher field levels are of greater risk than lower level fields. The complex scientific issues attending health effects of power-frequency electric and magnetic fields would be most effectively resolved through interdisciplinary research involving investigators from biological, medical and engineering research communities. A critical need, at present, is a significant increase in federal funding for research on interaction mechanisms and animal studies, while maintaining efforts in epidemiology but with greater emphasis on confounding factors and known cancer-causing agents.