![]() This report, compiled by a group of internationally respected scientists specialising in this field, urges Well, the facts (or at least our understanding of them) have changed.Īnd yet we may not fully understand exactly how and why low-frequency EM radiation affects human bodies and health. All we know is that it does.įortunately, scientists are just as good as economists at changing their mind! Concerning power line EMF and health issues, most of them already have, judging by the Bio-Initiative Report of 2012. ![]() (The wavelength of a 60 Hz power wave is 5000 km.)īut as the economist Keynes said “When the facts change, I change my mind”. The lower the frequency, the longer the wavelength.īack in the 1970’s many scientists believed that ELF electromagnetic radiation could not possibly have any biological effects, damaging or otherwise, because it was thought that the long wavelength would prevent its interaction with a relatively small body such as a human being. Power line EMF is classified as Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) radiation. What do Scientists Believe about EMF Health Risks? Therefore the evidence for EMF health effects will likely remain inconclusive, and may never be sufficient to prove unequivocally that long-term exposure to low-level, low-frequency EMF actually causes disease. These large and powerful organisations greatly influence public (and even scientific) opinion. Research studies can be structured so as to demonstrate whatever conclusions their sponsors would like to promote.īig money, from government and industry, could be backing the (minority of) research which fails to find health effects from power line radiation. People would ask “why have you allowed this health hazard?” The same applies to the power distribution industry. Government organisations (which fund many of the studies) may not wish to promote the view that power line EMF can cause disease. Should you take it seriously? What Does the Government Say about Power Line Radiation?Įnvironmental agencies, health organisations and power-industry spokesmen generally stress the weaknesses of the evidence, inconsistencies in the data, and lack of conclusive proof. So the evidence cannot be considered to be 100% conclusive for any of the diseases mentioned. It is extremely unlikely that all these studies were mistaken in their conclusions.īut in some cases, subsequent studies which tried to replicate the original results have failed to confirm the effect. Of these, more than 200 were able to find a link between this type of radiation and (mostly) harmful biological effects. To appreciate the sheer weight of this evidence, see the excellent list of published research papers compiled by Powerwatch UK which identifies over 300 papers relating to EMF from power lines and electricity sub-stations. ![]() How Strong is the Evidence For Power Line Health Effects? miscarriage, birth defects and reproductive problems,.Since then, dozens of published papers have found links between living near power lines (and other electrical wiring configurations) and a range of health woes, including There has been concern over power line radiation and its effect on human health for at least 40 years. Living close to power lines has been shown to increase the risk of leukemia and other cancers since 1979, when convincing evidence was first published by Wertheimer and Leeper in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Health Effects of Living Near Power Lines – Is EMF Really Harmful? Power Line EMF is strongest directly underneath the power lines, and gradually fades away with increasing distance. In the case of high-voltage transmission lines, the EMF can extend to about 300 meters. Since power lines may carry huge amounts of current, often at high voltages, substantial electromagnetic fields (EMF) are created. how far apart the wires are from each other, and similar factors). The strength and extent of this magnetic field depends on three things: how much current is flowing, the voltage, and the configuration of the wires (i.e. ![]() The magnetic portion is the more dangerous because of its ability to penetrate the human body. These are the two components of the electromagnetic field. When current flows through a wire, two fields are created around it: an electric field and a magnetic field. Power lines carry high-voltage electric current from one place to another. ![]()
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