Power lines and cancer (4.2, 4.3) Does living near power lines cause leukemia in children? The National Cancer Institute spent 5 years and $5 million gathering data on this question. The researchers compared 638 children who had leukemia with 620 who did not. They went into the homes and measured the magnetic fields in children’s bedrooms, in other rooms, and at the front door. They recorded facts about power lines near the family home and also near the mother’s residence when she was pregnant.

Result: no connection between leukemia and exposure to magnetic fields of the kind produced by power lines was found.7

(a) Was this an observational study or an experiment?

Justify your answer.

(b) Does this study show that living near power lines doesn’t cause cancer? Explain.