有些個案研究認為高壓線有導致某種癌症的危險，也有報導指出，某一區住在高壓線附近的居民，癌症患者人數高於平均，因而造成許多的訴訟案件，而電力公司也不知為此作了多少疏通的工作，訴訟和疏通的費用都非常龐大。
高壓線是否會導致癌症，是一項極為艱巨和費時的研究工作，雖然目前仍是一個全球性的研究課題，但究竟已進行了數十年之久，相關文獻已具參考價值。美國物理學會在檢視現有的疾病分佈和生物研究資料，以及參閱其他小組對高壓線致癌的評估報告後，認為這些資料和報告並未顯示高壓線和癌症之間的科學關連性，因此於1995年及2005年兩度發表聲明，要點是：「曝露在任何環境因素之下，都不可能絕對證明其無害於健康，但是要作出某一環境因素有害健康的結論，仍必須舉證二者之間一致的、有意義的、和互為因果的關係。基於此一觀點，高壓線導致癌症的臆測尚無科學依據」(“While it is impossible to prove that no deleterious health effects occur from exposure to any environmental factor, it is necessary to demonstrate a consistent, significant, and causal relationship before one can conclude that such effects do occur. From this standpoint, the conjectures relating cancer to power line fields have not been scientifically substantiated.”)。這份措辭嚴謹的聲明也反映了其他一些學術和公益團體對此問題的看法。

TAIWAN

"The EMF-RAPID biologic research contributed little evidence to support the hypothesis that a link exists between [power-frequency fields] and cancer...

o

The results of in vivo studies do not support a [power-frequency field] effect on cancer initiation, promotion or progression...

o

Evidence of any robust and replicated effects on the development of cancer is lacking."

"The results of the EMF-RAPID program do not support the contention that the use of electricity poses a major unrecognized public-health danger" [A1]

"The overall scientific evidence for human health risk from [exposure to power-frequency fields] is weak. No consistent pattern of biological effects from exposure has emerged from laboratory studies with animals or with cells. However, epidemiological studies... had shown a fairly consistent pattern that associated potential [exposure to power-frequency fields] with a small increased risk of leukemia in children and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in adults... For both childhood and adult leukemias interpretation of the epidemiological findings has been difficult due to the absence of supporting laboratory evidence or a scientific explanation linking exposure with leukemia." [A2]

The American Medical Association advised physicians that no scientifically documented health risk had been associated with "usually occurring" EMF, based on a review of EMF epidemiological, laboratory studies, and major literature reviews. [A3]

The American Cancer Society released a review of 20 years of EMF epidemiological research including occupational studies and residential studies of adult and childhood cancer. The summary suggested that there is no persuasive evidence for increased risk with more frequent or longer use of these appliances. [A4]

The epidemiological evidence indicates that exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields above 0.4 microT is associated with a small absolute raised risk of leukaemia in children... However, the epidemiological evidence is not strong enough to justify a firm conclusion that [power-frequency magnetic] fields cause leukemia in children. There is little evidence to suggest... that cancer risks of other types, in children and adults, might arise from exposure to [power-frequency magnetic] fields.

The findings from studies of health outcomes other than cancer have generally been inconsistent or difficult to interpret.

The results of epidemiological studies, taken individually or as collectively reviewed by expert groups, cannot be used as a basis for derivation of quantitative restrictions on exposure to [power-frequency magnetic] fields. [A6]

Much like the 1996 U.S. NAS report, the WHO report noted that living in homes near power lines was associated with an approximate 1.5-fold excess risk of childhood leukemia. But unlike the NAS panel, WHO scientists had seen the results of the 1997 U.S. National Cancer Institute study of EMF and childhood leukemia. This work showed even more strongly the inconsistency between results of studies that used a wire code to estimate EMF exposure and studies that actually measured magnetic fields.
Regarding health effects other than cancer, the WHO scientists reported that the epidemiological studies "do not provide sufficient evidence to support an association between extremely-low-frequency magnetic-field exposure and adult cancers, pregnancy outcome, or neurobehavioural disorders." [A7]

There is limited evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields in relation to childhood leukaemia.

There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields in relation to all other cancers.

There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of static electric or magnetic fields and extremely low-frequency electric fields.

There is inadequate evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields.

No data relevant to the carcinogenicity of static electric or magnetic fields and extremely low-frequency electric fields in experimental animals were available.

Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic to humans.

Static electric and magnetic fields and extremely low-frequency electric fields are not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans. [A8]

On January 1, 1997, Germany became the first nation to adopt a national rule on EMF exposure for the general public. Ordinance 26 applies only to facilities such as overhead and underground transmission and distribution lines, transformers, switchgear and overhead lines for electric-powered trains. Both electric (5 kV/m) and magnetic field exposure limits (1 Gauss) are high enough that they are unlikely to be encountered in ordinary daily life. The ordinance also requires that precautionary measures be taken on a case-by-case basis when electric facilities are sited or upgraded near homes, hospital, schools, day care centers, and playgrounds. [A9]

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) issued exposure guidelines to guard against known adverse effects such as stimulation of nerves and muscles at very high EMF levels, as well as shocks and burns caused by touching objects that conduct electricity. In April 1998, ICNIRP revised its exposure guidelines and characterized as "unconvincing" the evidence for an association between everyday power-frequency EMF and cancer. [A10]

In 1996, a European Union (EU) advisory panel provided an overview of the state of science and standards among EU countries. With respect to power-frequency EMF, the panel members said that there is no clear evidence that exposure to EMF results in an increased risk of cancer. [A11]

The committee briefly reviewed the EMF scientific literature and advised the Australian Parliament that overall, there is insufficient evidence to come to a firm conclusion regarding possible health effects from exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields. [A12]

In December 1998, the report concluded that while EMF effects may be observed in biological systems in a laboratory, no adverse health effects have been demonstrated at the levels to which humans and animals are typically exposed. [A13]

In October 1995, a group of Swedish researchers and government officials reviewed EMF scientific literature and, using the IARC classification system, ranked occupational EMF exposure as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." In 1996, five Swedish government agencies said that EMF exposure should be reduced but only when practical, without great inconvenience or cost.
Health experts in Norway, Denmark, and Finland generally agreed in reviews published in the 1990s that if an EMF health risk exists, it is small. They acknowledged that a link between residential magnetic fields and childhood leukemia cannot be confirmed or denied. [A14]

2004: A Japanese study found no significant association between living in district within 300 m of a transmission line and the incidence of childhood hematological malignancies (leukemia plus lymphoma).

2004-2005: There were press reports in Nov. 2004 that an as-yet unpublished British study showed an association between residence near power lines and the incidence of childhood leukemia, but the details of the study were not publicly known…