Environmental Concerns With High Voltage Power Lines

Whether high power voltage lines pose a health risk to those living in close proximity to them is a controversial topic. Conflicting studies abound and scientists agree only on the need for more studies. If you are considering a home close to high power voltage lines, or if you already live near them, you should familiarize yourself with this controversy.

Electro Magnetic Field

• An Electro Magnetic Field, often called EMF, includes the electric field created by charged particles, the magnetic field created by the movement of those charged particles and radiated fields from microwaves and televisions. EMFs are found everywhere electric power is found and their strength is measured on the Gauss scale. The Gauss scale measures how far the magnetic field extends from it's source.

Cancer

• Anecdotal reports from the 1980s indicate a slight increase in childhood leukemia in children who lived in close proximity to high voltage power lines, but researchers are unable to determine if the increase in childhood leukemia was related to the power lines. In 1999, The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences determined that scientific evidence of health risk due to EMF exposure is weak.

Migraines

• Researchers have studied whether some individuals are more sensitive to EMF than others, leading to complaints such as migraine headaches. If you feel you are sensitive, make sure devices that emit high EMF, such as cell phones and computers, are not placed close to the bed. Removing these devices may reduce the intensity and the frequency of migraines in those sensitive to EMF. Contact your local utility company to request an EMF evaluation of your home.

Real Estate

• The resale value of a home is impacted by high voltage power lines. Typically, this impact is 10 percent of the home's value or less and the impact becomes smaller the greater the distance between the home and the high voltage lines. This impact is thought to be a result of the appearance of the metal towers, health and safety concerns and the sounds emitted by high voltage lines.