An alternate hypothesis for the association between electrical wiring configurations and cancer.

Several epidemiologic studies have reported positive associations between electric distribution wiring configurations and cancer incidence, particularly among children. According to the investigators of these studies, the results indicate a possible link between cancer and exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields, because residential magnetic fields are correlated with wiring configurations. I propose an alternate hypothesis to explain the epidemiologic observations, namely, that ground return currents in plumbing service lines are associated with electric wiring configuration, and cause the release of corrosion products in tap water, ingestion of which constitutes a risk factor for cancer. To corroborate this hypothesis, three conditions must be satisfied: (1) the magnitude of the ground return currents in water pipes is related to wiring configuration, with higher currents generally found associated with homes classified in the high-exposure categories; (2) corrosion on the internal surface of water pipe is related to alternating currents flowing on the pipe, with higher currents associated with higher rates of corrosion; and (3) ingestion of water from pipes undergoing alternating-current-related corrosive processes increases the probability of developing cancer.