The Dangers of Power Lines

The driving force behind our economy in America is the power we use to light, heat, cool and supply the comforts of our everyday lives. Conductive pathways must be made to carry the power produced from nuclear power plant, coal, wind and solar energies to our homes and businesses. These conductive pathways often come in grid forms and are carried to individual units by power lines. You should be aware of power line dangers as a consumer to know the risks posed.

Controversy

• Concerns about the effects power lines were having on humans began to be raised in the 1960s. Utility workers in the Soviet Union showed headaches and sleeplessness in high numbers. Since that tim, studies have been performed to get a risk-assessment of the power lines and their electric fields. Most of the studies claimed no link while others claimed evidence that there was a link.

Conductors

• Practice extreme caution when you use wet materials around power lines. Water is a conductor that can coat a nonconductor, allowing electricity to slide across the surface. Your body is also an electricity conductor. Touching a power line when climbing a tree can yield a shock with enough force to kill you.

Disasters

• One of the most commonly known dangers that power lines pose is during natural disasters. Trees near power lines or poles can be knocked down, exposing a live wire. Combined with rain or wet surfaces, these can be fatal to those who are trapped in their cars or who come into contact with toppled wires.

Risks

• All power lines produce electromagnetic fields. Exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields of 2 mG or more can cause adverse effects in humans. Children have a higher rate of leukemia when exposed to these magnetic fields. There has also been research that shows that miscarriage percentages are increased with temporary levels of exposure of 16 mG. Other diseases have also been linked to power line EMF dangers.

Considerations

• Since scientific research to find definitive answers on the dangers of power lines is too costly in most cases, research is often stunted. Avoiding power lines is also difficult because of the growing need for energy. Teaching your children about safe play around power lines and poles can help to avoid electrocution.