Living Close to Power Lines Linked to Alzheimers Disease
People living within 50 meters of a 220-380 kV power line are more likely to die of Alzheimer’s disease than those living at least 600 meters away from these lines, according to Swiss researchers from the University of Bern. The longer people lived close to the power lines, the higher their risk.
Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device that is plugged in and turned on. These electromagnetic fields are everywhere, in fact the cell phones, laptops, microwaves, hair dryers, electric blankets, and other appliances we surround ourselves with everyday emit an electromagnetic field in varying degrees.
The dangers of electromagnetic fields have long been a subject of discussion, controversy and research. Although there has been no conclusive evidence of a link between disease and EMF exposure, the World Health Organization has stated that these magnetic fields are possible human carcinogens. Some studies have found an increased risk of childhood leukemia in children living next to high-voltage power lines. Most recently, a study from 2005 found that children living within 200 meters of high-voltage power lines have a 70-percent increased risk of developing leukemia.
In your home there are a number of common-sense ways to reduce exposures to the EMFs that surround you during the day:
- Magnetic fields from appliances drop off dramatically in strength with increased distance from the source.
- Stand back from an appliance when it’s in use. A microwave, in particular, emits a considerable electromagnetic field within several feet of it during operation. Standing five-feet away from it during use will greatly reduce any EMF exposure.
- Keep at least an arm’s length away from computer monitors.
- Avoid using a laptop directly on the lap. There is no documented health hazard from using a laptop on the lap, but laptops do emit a small amount of radiation.
- Don’t let children play directly under power lines or on top of power transformers for underground lines.
- The duration of exposure is a factor of EMF exposure as well:
- Alarm clocks that sit next to your head for eight hours every night should be moved away from the head of the bed.
- Electric blankets that surround your body all night expose you to eight hours of low-dose EMF.
- Children are more susceptible to any potential dangers from EMF and parents might want to consider limiting cell phone use as a precautionary measure. Talking for hours on end, for instance, is a problem for a number of reasons, but the full breadth of the hazards of cell phone use by children is not completely understood yet.
- Correct any household wiring problems. This is also worth doing just for general safety reasons.
World wide, scientists who study the biological effects of radiation continue to do research on this issue.
Source: American Journal of Epidemiology, January 15, 2009.
Source: Draper G, Vincent T, Kroll ME, et al. Childhood cancer in relation to distance from high voltage power lines in England and Wales: a case-control study. British Medical Journal. 2005;330;1290-1294
Bookmark this page
E-mail this story
Print this post
Hi - Need an advice. I have bought a house recently and before handover, discovered that it is very close to EMF (PYLONS) may BE 50-60 METER
Is there any way to reduce the effect of those pylons on our health? does this affect plants as well? ( I m curious to know that for example, my garden will not be growing or looking better because of those radiations??? any relation?
is there any kind of ffod that we can eat to reduce the effect of those EMF?
Is there anything that we can put inside the house to reduce the effect of these radiations??
Appreciate ur feedback
May
May,
In reply to your questions, I unfortunately have no good solution for you. EMF experts contend that the only ways to reduce your exposure to EMF is to increase the distance between you and the EMF source, and decrease the time spent close to the EMF source.
My understanding is that there are no adequate shields for EMF, although you might want to email an EMF expert at the EPA to verify this. I spoke with several EMF experts a few years ago and that was their answer.
With regard to food, to help prevent cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, raw and/or lightly cooked. Fruits and vegetable contain cancer-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals. The following page lists foods that are considered to be protective of cancer. http://www.bami.us/Diet/PowerFoods.html
There are other very important steps that you can take to prevent cancer. I have outlined these Eight Steps on the following page:
http://www.bami.us/Cancer/CancerRisk.html
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Nina Thompson, RN, MSN, ARNP
Bay Area Medical Information (www.bami.us)
its all a tempest in a tea pot, nothing, and I say nothing, has proven efm has caused health problems.
I as a powerline.man have worked on high voltage lines for all my life, I brought up 3 children in perfect health, living beside a 500kva line for 12 years, and I myself have worked on 4100.00 volt lines with in inches with rubber gloves, plus 2500 volt lines with sticks,at 78yrs, I still climb poles and work on live lines. believe who you want, but been there done that, less the 400 years ago man was told the earth flat