A morbidity study of the population of a district of
Rome built in part under a 60 kV electric distribution
line, included 345 subjects resident in the study area in
any period between 1954 and 2003, excluding those
deceased before 1998. Residential magnetic field levels
were estimated based on current load, line characteristics,
and distance of the dwellings from the power line,
and the study area was divided into sub-areas with differing
magnetic field levels. Standardized morbidity
ratios were computed from hospital discharge records
dated 1998–2003. Non statistically significant increases
were observed for all and primary cancers; primary
cancers were significantly increased among subjects
with >30 years’ residence and latency. A significant
increase for all, primary, and secondary cancers, and a
two-fold increase for ischaemic diseases, was observed in
subjects in the sub-area with the highest exposure. No
increase was seen in neoplastic haematological diseases.