What Are the Dangers of Living Near High Voltage Power Lines?

Apart from the obvious dangers of electrocution, there are other serious health hazards that are now recognized as occurring as a result of living near high voltage overhead power lines. The Think About It website says a study carried out by the Swedish government on 500,000 people over 25 years found that children living near high voltage power lines had four times the risk of getting cancer than in normal circumstances, whilst adults were three times more likely. The Swedish government now rates electromagnetic fields along with tobacco as a class 2 carcinogen.

Electrocution

• Be careful not to make a connection with the power lines by using things such as kites near them. Even if you do not touch the overhead power lines with something you are holding, the electricity can arc over short distances to make a connection. Overhead power cables are not insulated like the cables in your home. The Bonneville Power Administration website advises that you do not put yourself or any objects higher than 14 feet when you are near overhead power lines.

Illness

• Although there has been much controversy over the years about the health risks of living near power lines, the evidence is becoming overwhelming that there are indeed risks of illnesses such as leukemia (particularly in children), cancer, brain tumors, high blood pressure, stress induced headaches, fatigue and immune deficiencies. The list grows as the years go on and the findings of studies accumulate.

Protection

• Due to the fears of the dangers of electromagnetic fields caused by, not only high-voltage overhead power lines, but electrical equipment used in the home and at the office, there is a growing industry in products designed to protect the human body from the detrimental effects of these fields. As the research in this area is in its infancy, faith in the efficacy of these products should be tempered accordingly.

Financial Risks

• As the dangers of living near high-voltage overhead power lines becomes known more widely and the results of research increase the validity of the argument that they cause health problems, people are becoming less inclined to buy homes near to them. The EM Watch website points out that awareness is growing all the time and the longer people take to make the decision to sell these homes, the more of a financial loss they will take.