In 1996 and in 1999, the Bristol University Human Radiation Effects Group published papers suggesting that the electric fields from high-voltage overhead power lines might influence the behaviour of airborne particles in such a way as to be harmful to human health. The main example given was radon daughter products.

The suggestions made were:

• That electric fields make harmful particles from the atmosphere more likely to stick to the skin.
• That electric fields increase the concentration of harmful particles in the atmosphere near the source of the field.
• That power lines produce “corona ions” which make particles in the atmosphere more likely to stick in the lungs. 

The suggestions have not been widely accepted and there has been some controversy. The most recent independent view was published by the National Radiological Protection Board's (NRPB) Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation in 2004. They agree that most of the physical processes do happen, but conclude:

“…it seems unlikely that corona ions would have more than a small effect on the long-term health risks associated with particulate air pollutants, even in the individuals who are most affected. In public health terms, the proportionate impact will be even lower because only a small fraction of the general population live or work close to sources of corona ions.”

and

“Any health risks from the deposition of environmental particulate air pollutants on the skin appear to be negligible.”

In 2007 the WHO Environmental Health Criteria monograph echoed these words:

"High-voltage power lines produce clouds of electrically charged ions as a consequence of corona discharge. It is suggested that they could increase the deposition of airborne pollutants on the skin and on airways inside the body, possibly adversely affecting health. However, it seems unlikely that corona ions will have more than a small effect, if any, on long term health risks, even in the individuals who are most exposed."

Research on these suggestions

In 2005, Oxford University’s Childhood Cancer Research Group (CCRG) looked at whether childhood cancer was more common downwind rather than upwind of power lines, as would be predicted by this suggestion. The paper says:

“We have made an initial test of this hypothesis using a simple model suggested by Preece et al (personal communication), assuming the prevailing wind is from the south west. The case-control ratio was no greater downwind than upwind of power lines, so, using this admittedly oversimplified approach, we have no evidence to support this hypothesis.”

In 2014, CCRG looked at this same issue using a much more detailed model of corona ions, with the same conclusion:

“Thus, we conclude that the simple corona-ion hypothesis that we test here explains the observed pattern of leukaemia rates around power lines less well than straightforward distance. Our findings therefore do not support this corona-ion hypothesis as the explanation of these results.”

A different group at the University of Bristol headed by Dr Preece is analysing the incidence of certain cancers in areas of Avon and the South West close to or downwind of power lines. Various preliminary results were reported some time ago in the media and at scientific conferences, but the work is not yet finished, final results are not available, and the work has not been reported in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. There are various methodological issues raised by such work. Unless and until both the methods and the results are properly published it is not possible to assess the validity of the work or to place reliance on any results.
 

Adult cancers and corona ions 

In 2020 an epidemiological study investigated this mechanism specifically focusing on mouth, lung, respiratory and skin cancers in adults. They concluded:

“Our results do not provide evidence to support hypotheses that air ion density or electric fields in the vicinity of power lines are associated with cancer risk in adults.”