If these are increased near powerlines as a result of increased lung deposition of inhaled aerosols charged by corona ions, then the number of excess cases could reach several thousand. Not all of these would be fatal. The literature contains a number of papers associating both suicide and depression with exposure to magnetic fields, including near powerlines. Increased risk of both suicide and depression are both considered biologically plausible either by reduced production of melatonin by magnetic fields or by the magnetic field induction of electric fields in the body. A general consistency that both suicide and depression are associated with power frequency magnetic field exposure.
Some studies also hint at an association with power frequency electric fields.
Occupational studies appear to show lower effects than for residential studies. This would be consistent with a mechanistic effect associated with reduced melatonin production, which occurs mainly at night and therefore has a larger effect on chronically exposed populations. The average suicide rate for males and females is taken to be 9.6 per 100,000 per year. Assume the risk to be doubled. This would imply 60 cases annually.