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Health Effects of Power Lines

The relationship between any serious health risk and living near power lines is very weak. Numerous studies have been conducted on various types of cancer and living near power lines, with only the most minuscule (and not scientifically significant) increases in various cancer risk. However, in 1992, the National Institutes of Health did raise weak alarms concerning different types of childhood cancers.

  1. Leukemia

    • The 1992 NIH study of low frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF and EMF) admitted that there was a tiny increase of risk for childhood leukemias for those living close to ELF and EMF. However, the study also cited animal testing where there was absolutely no increase of cancer risk from ELF or EMF exposure.

    Brain Cancer

    • The 1992 study also cited an equally tiny increase of risk for childhood brain cancers. However, in both cases, the NIH insisted that the increase in risk was so small that it was of no scientific value. The tiny increase of childhood cancer risk was offset by the nonexistent risk in the animal trials.

    Adult Cancers

    • The NIH also cited several experiments with adults who worked in very close proximity to ELF and EMF, at far greater amounts than the normal household near power lines. In these cases, there was no increase of risk for any cancer whatsoever in these trials.

    Breast Cancer

    • In addition, the NIH also attempted to find a connection between breast cancer and exposure to ELF and EMF, both at increased and normal rates of exposure. There was a tiny increase in breast cancer risk (in both men and women), but again, not enough to create any sure connection. All in all, there is no demonstrable health risk from even high rates of exposure to ELF and EMF.

    Additional Work

    • More recently, the Health Physics Society cited numerous post-1992 studies on exposure to both ELF and EMF. The results confirmed the earlier NIH studies on cancer risks. The HPS even went so far as to say that living near power lines had a "clean bill of health," with no discernible health risks whatsoever.

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