Health Risks for High Voltage Power Lines Near Homes

Many scientific studies continue to be conducted to determine the health risks of living in a home near power lines. The studies try to determine what risks are greater and at what distances, be it within 50 meters (about 165 feet) or up to 600 meters (about 1970 feet) from power lines. The risks include leukemia in children, Alzheimer's disease, depression, miscarriages, headaches and insomnia. Risk assessments vary greatly depending on the investigating agency.

Types of Studies

• Some studies are theoretical and look at what may happen when the electromagnetic energy produced by power lines passes through the body. Experiments can be done on animals to try to assess these theories. But animals are not humans, so scientists acknowledge that such studies, although they can give reasonable ideas, cannot be absolutely conclusive. Other studies collect data and make comparisons as to how many cases of the risks studied appear in what percentage of people who live within various distances of power lines. This data is compared to data collected from people who live longer distances away to make estimates of risk. Again, because of so many extenuating circumstances and possibilities, they cannot be absolutely conclusive.

Leukemia in Children

• The most worrisome and oldest assumed risk is leukemia in children, which remains a large child killer disease. A paper published June 4, 2005, in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) concluded that "There is an association between childhood leukemia and proximity of home address at birth to high voltage power lines... about 1 percent of childhood leukemia in England and Wales would be attributable to these lines." However, the report continues, "There is no accepted biological mechanism to explain the epidemiological results; indeed, the relation may be due to chance or confounding." In short, although not absolutely proven, the risk at some degree exists.

Alzheimer's Disease

• The abstracts of two studies conducted in England were added to the website of the Human Radiation Effects Group in late 2008. Both reports conclude that there is a risk or Alzheimer's disease in men who live near power lines. The risks increase with the time of residence and the nearness of the power lines. In short, a man living 600 meters from a power line for five years has far less risk of Alzheimer's disease than a man living within 50 meters for 15 years. Both reports also conclude that more studies are needed to find out the exact nature of the risks.

Other Health Concerns

• In a paper published Sept. 15, 2004, in Medical News Today, the Trentham Environmental Action Campaign, an independent research and activist group concerned about the adverse health effects from the high voltage power line that runs through their community, carried out a local survey. The survey concluded that "depression, miscarriages, headaches, insomnia (with its attendant chronic health problems due to immune system damage) were much more common in the people who lived near the power line, compared with those who lived further away." The Trentham Group remains in constant contact with officials in attempts to tighten governmental controls.

Experiments on Animals

• Most of the studies done in the United States are on a more theoretical basis and involve laboratory testing. A report by the National Institute on Environmental Health Services (NIEHS) concludes that no laboratory studies have indicated that living near power lines is hazardous to human health. They also state that results of epidemiological studies are weak. But even though they are weak, NIEHS ultimately acknowledges that "The human data are in the 'right' species, are tied to 'real life' exposures and show some consistency that is difficult to ignore." So, the risks do exist, but the degree lies somewhere between negligible and of logical concern.