Estimation of the general population and children under five years of age in France exposed to magnetic field from high or very high voltage power line using geographic information system and extrapolated field data.

Background: The effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields, especially their long-term health effects, including childhood leukaemia, remain elusive. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the exposure to magnetic fields >0.4 μT as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2 B)' for childhood leukaemia.