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Health Risks of Power Lines

Most times we do not think too much about where electricity comes from. However, since the 1970s, questions have been raised about the health risks associated with residing near power lines. Health risks believed to be related to power lines include cancer and leukemia and birth defects, according to the Harvard Health Publications. However, there is no definitive scientific evidence that proximity to power lines increases the risk for illness.

  1. Power Lines

    • Power lines generate manmade invisible electromagnetic fields that are created by the flow of currents running through wires or electrical instruments. Electromagnetic fields can vary in intensity. According to the California Electric and Magnetic Fields Program, power lines produce 50 and 60 Hertz fields, often known as "power frequency" fields. Hertz calculates the rate of fields in the number of wave cycles every second. The lesser the frequency of a field, the lower the energy it produces. Power frequency fields have a low frequency field and low energy level, according to the California Electric and Magnetic Fields Program.

    Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields

    • Every day we are exposed to electric and magnetic fields from the production of electricity, telecommunication devices, and broadcasting. The World Health Organization states that low-frequency electric fields affect the human body in some capacity, such as creating circulating currents in the body. If exposed to intense magnetic fields, the currents could stimulate nerves and muscle as well as affect other biological methods. However, the electric and magnetic field produced beneath a high voltage power line is very minute, even smaller than the power needed to create an electric shock.

    Research

    • The Health Physics Society reports that multiple studies about power lines have been conducted. In 1995, the American Physical Society addressed the health effects of electric and magnetic fields created by power lines. Another study, the Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992, included its five-year finding of electric and magnetic fields on human health. In 1996, the World Health Organization also conducted research on the topic as did the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in 1999.

    Findings

    • The research showed no conclusive evidence of health risks. For instance, the World Health Organization found there is not enough evidence to confirm the presence of health consequences from low-level electromagnetic fields. The findings also pointed out that while environmental factors may cause biological effects, biological effects are not the same as health hazards. While findings did not absolve power lines from being completely risk-free, the World Health Organization stated "there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health."

    Protection

    • If you are worried about the health risks from power lines, there are certain things you can do. Maintain a distance between you and the power line source. The farther you are from power lines, the more you limit your exposure. Some states, including California, have regulations concerning how far power lines can be from schools. Also in California, the Public Utilities Commission calls for investor-owned utilities to offer magnetic field measurements at no cost to customers.

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