Danger Living Near Power Lines
- Thread starter dansharka
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
dansharka said:
You can buy a Gaussmeter from Radio Shack for about $100.00 to take readings but the EMF's would definitely be very high near high tension lines. Go there at night with a fluorescent tube and see if it lights up. The results may scare you.
As far as the danger from EMF's, I believe the verdict is still out but I would not take the risk.
I can remember writing a report in my college days on this topic, and researching all the research that had been done. Unbiased research nearly always found inconclusive evidence of a link between EMF and cancer. Biased research, which was and still is fairly common, would prove whatever the author wanted to prove.
I would suggest that in real estate, location is everything. And if you're uncomfortable enough to ask this question, what do you think will happen when it's time for you to sell the house? There is a lot of real estate out there that isn't selling, maybe you should consider finding something else in a location that you are more comfortable with.
I would suggest that in real estate, location is everything. And if you're uncomfortable enough to ask this question, what do you think will happen when it's time for you to sell the house? There is a lot of real estate out there that isn't selling, maybe you should consider finding something else in a location that you are more comfortable with.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
I will go on record as declaring my belief that there is no danger whatsoever. I also believe that there is no health benefit to wearing a magnetic bracelet. I believe the entire topic is nonsense. From what I read recently, nobody can prove that I am wrong, and the fact that I cannot prove I am right does not bother me.dansharka said:
But I can believe that if a person is concerned about health risks, whether the risks are real or imaginary, that concern is likely to prevent the person from enjoying living in that area. In addition, the concern may carry over to the next person contemplating buying the house.
winnie
Senior Member
- Location
- Springfield, MA, USA
- Occupation
- Electric motor research
I would not hesitate to live near power lines if the property were otherwise what I wanted.
I believe studies suggest that there may be some risk, but the same studies clearly show that if there is a risk, it is very, very small. There are many other risks in the world, some which we don't think about which are much greater than those of power lines. Take two properties that are otherwise equal; put one near power lines, and locate the other so that your daily commute in a car is 10% longer. Hands down take the property with the shorter commute!
My _hunch_ is than any risks from power lines are not actually caused by the 60Hz EMFs, but are instead caused by things that we are not looking closely at which may be associated with power lines. As we discover these rear causes, we will discover what to fix to make the risks go away. For example (and this is pulled from between my buttocks, not a supported scientific theory), perhaps bad insulators can cause X-ray generator on high voltage lines, and the X-rays cause risk; if this is found to be the case, then looking for broken insulators would be the way to reduce power line cancer risks. EPRI published a much more supported theory that suggests EMF coupling via water pipes causing low current flow in bath water...however they didn't provide a mechanism by which this low current flow would itself cause damage. However if this is the 'root' problem, then it can be easily fixed by extra bonding around the bath tub.
-Jon
I believe studies suggest that there may be some risk, but the same studies clearly show that if there is a risk, it is very, very small. There are many other risks in the world, some which we don't think about which are much greater than those of power lines. Take two properties that are otherwise equal; put one near power lines, and locate the other so that your daily commute in a car is 10% longer. Hands down take the property with the shorter commute!
My _hunch_ is than any risks from power lines are not actually caused by the 60Hz EMFs, but are instead caused by things that we are not looking closely at which may be associated with power lines. As we discover these rear causes, we will discover what to fix to make the risks go away. For example (and this is pulled from between my buttocks, not a supported scientific theory), perhaps bad insulators can cause X-ray generator on high voltage lines, and the X-rays cause risk; if this is found to be the case, then looking for broken insulators would be the way to reduce power line cancer risks. EPRI published a much more supported theory that suggests EMF coupling via water pipes causing low current flow in bath water...however they didn't provide a mechanism by which this low current flow would itself cause damage. However if this is the 'root' problem, then it can be easily fixed by extra bonding around the bath tub.
-Jon
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
A year ago, I would have said I don't think that there is any issue, but after reading some of the information about induced voltage and corrosion on metal underground pipelines that are run in the same right away as high voltage trasmission lines, I am no longer so positive that there is no danger.
Don
Don
dbuckley
Senior Member
- Location
- Canterbury, New Zealand
charlie b said:
Massive agreement.
However, kc8dxx is also right, remembering that perception is everything.
robbietan
Senior Member
- Location
- Antipolo City
charlie b said:
here! here!
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
I would like to promote the myth that power lines are bad for the health. I would like to buy up any home under cross country power lines on the cheap. PM me. 
mdshunk said:I would like to promote the myth that power lines are bad for the health. I would like to buy up any home under cross country power lines on the cheap. PM me.
Once you've convinced everyone it's bad living there, how would you sell them?
'Come live in "Glow-in-the-Dark Estates"!'
Free hair implants with every sale!
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
My place matches the above description, and will soon be on the market - care to make an offer?celtic said:
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Between the proposed uranium mining for the area, the everlooming but nonspecific toll road, and the gas line set to plow through my front yard next year, this sucker will be priced to sell and still not sell, powerlines or no. I thought the powerlines were going to be the big deal when I bought it!
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
George... Is it true that living under power lines causes a person to spend much of their free time online?
dennis schaffert
Member
magnetic fields
magnetic fields
We live in a world of magnetic fields, when ever you have a flow of electrons a magnetic field exists, from your radio to your coffee maker, our atmosphere its self ,is sustained by the earths magnetic field. Wave length and frequency seem to dictate the effects of fields ,ultra high frequency's such as microwave and X ray are energetically dangerous, but reduce it to infrared wave lengths your channel changer and it is harmless it would seem that the true danger exists on a power line within the area that the actual electron flow exists equal to its spark gap , in some cases depending on the applied voltage this could be up to 12 feet . The magnetic lines of flux tend to contain and direct electron flow in the direction of the conductor or wire if the applied voltage increases the magnetic field increases at a given rate equal to its voltage. only the introduction of an unintended ground path or solar flare inducing a greater voltage will alter the field strength. Magnetic fields will ultimately become our force fields of the future ,when we understand them better. look at it this way if it was not for the ability of a magnetic field to bend electron flow we would not have a TV. And yes you can stimulate the movement of electrons in a fluorescent tube near power lines but this is a residual magnetic effect not a directly applied effect
magnetic fields
We live in a world of magnetic fields, when ever you have a flow of electrons a magnetic field exists, from your radio to your coffee maker, our atmosphere its self ,is sustained by the earths magnetic field. Wave length and frequency seem to dictate the effects of fields ,ultra high frequency's such as microwave and X ray are energetically dangerous, but reduce it to infrared wave lengths your channel changer and it is harmless it would seem that the true danger exists on a power line within the area that the actual electron flow exists equal to its spark gap , in some cases depending on the applied voltage this could be up to 12 feet . The magnetic lines of flux tend to contain and direct electron flow in the direction of the conductor or wire if the applied voltage increases the magnetic field increases at a given rate equal to its voltage. only the introduction of an unintended ground path or solar flare inducing a greater voltage will alter the field strength. Magnetic fields will ultimately become our force fields of the future ,when we understand them better. look at it this way if it was not for the ability of a magnetic field to bend electron flow we would not have a TV. And yes you can stimulate the movement of electrons in a fluorescent tube near power lines but this is a residual magnetic effect not a directly applied effect
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
I (HOPE) I am through worrying about the local utility putting power lines across my property. Now I am no a NIMBY, but I have already lost one house to right on eminent domain and being on the side of the home owner against the county is not a good position, legal fees, thoughts of losing a house, ect....strains a family especially as my house was under construction at the time (16 years ago). I sure did not look forward to that again.
What got me was the local utility had a right away and the home owners over there knew or should have known this right away existed, well duh there is an existing power line. The home owners claimed ignorance, or one power line is enough or this is a community move it there (my property) as it is not an organized community or this will affect my property value (and it won't effect mine).
What got me was the local utility had a right away and the home owners over there knew or should have known this right away existed, well duh there is an existing power line. The home owners claimed ignorance, or one power line is enough or this is a community move it there (my property) as it is not an organized community or this will affect my property value (and it won't effect mine).
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
You can read about the science at the World Health Organization EMF home page. The condensed June, 2007, FAQ of the WHO statement on high and/or low level exposure is at this linkdansharka said:
You can evaluate the statements first hand and form your own opinion.
Multiple tests are required to form a data set that is then interpreted. One takes measurements at different locations throughout the property. Field strength can change a lot in the distance of a few feet.dansharka said:
You can get good information (book or DVD) and test sets at this site. Karl Riley is a moderator at this Forum, and I am not receiving any consideration in posting this. . .Honest! :smile:
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