Full Answer
What is the safe distance from power line?
- High voltage power lines (transmission lines, aka the ‘walkers’) – anywhere within 1200m / ¾ of a mile. ...
- Transformer box – 150 meter / 165 yards
- Electrical substation – 150 meter / 165 yards ( article)
- Street power lines on ‘your’ side of the street (above or underground)
- Solar panels being present on the home
Is living near power lines bad and why?
What people don't understand is that living near power lines will expose them to the electrical and magnetic energy produced by these high-voltage wires. Long-term exposure can cause several health problems. Is Living near Power Lines Really Bad? A simple answer is YES.
Does living near power lines cause cancer?
Living Next To Power Lines Increases The Risk Of Cancer After hundreds of international studies, the evidence linking EMFs to cancers and other health problems is loud and clear. High Voltage power lines are the most obvious and dangerous culprits, but the same EMFs exist in gradually decreasing levels all along the grid, from substations to ...
Is living near power lines bad for our health?
What Are the Health Risks Living Near Power Lines? Supposedly, power lines behind houses, factories, or other office spaces where people may stay for long times are detrimental to their health. Chronic fatigue syndrome increased irritability, and a weakened immune system are just the beginning of the list of illnesses caused by dangerous radiation.
How far away from power lines are homes?
Homes within 3/4 of a mile of high power lines connected to the large metal towers. Some sources say homes within 1 mile
How to know if a home site is safe away from high power lines?
But the only way to safely know the distance is to have the amount of electromagnetic force (EMF) measured to see if a home site is a safe distance away from high power lines.
What Should I Do When Looking For A Home?
It is important to look at the homes distance from any kind of power lines, transformers, electrical substations and are there are any solar panels attached to the home.
What is the safest EMR level?
As mentioned earlier in this article, many governments have listed a safe maximum level of EMR as 1000mG (milligauss).
How to know if you are safe from power lines?
The only way to know you are a safe distance from power lines is to measure the EMF (EMR) with a gaussmeter (link to read reviews on Amazon). A gaussmeter is a testing device designed to measure the strength of the magnetic field of the house you live in or are looking at purchasing.
What is EMR in power lines?
The EMR is what is measured in order to know if the house is a safe distance from the power lines. You can not look at the size of the power lines or the number of power lines near a house and know how far out from those power lines the EMR extends.
How much of the study found that power frequency fields had no effect on subjects?
A 2006 Medical College of Wisconsin review of studies on the subject revealed that: 46 percent of those studies found exposure to power frequency fields had no effect on subjects. 22 percent found that exposure resulted in DNA damage. 32 percent of the studies were inconclusive.
What Is the Safe Distance to Live near Power Lines?
Ideally, you should be as far from power lines as possible. If you're within 50 of a 765 kv line or transmission tower, you're more likely to develop cancer and experience increase in triglyceride. When the distance is 507 m, you may experience abnormal EEG's. When you're at least 834 m away from it, you may end up developing issues related to decreased calcium flow. A distance of 1400 m may still result in altered biorhythms, and you may still experience issues related to stunted growth even if you're 2000 m away from a transmission network.
Why Is Living near Power Lines Bad?
Power lines are used to transfer high-voltage electric current from place to another, but when the current flows through the lines, it creates two separate fields around them – a magnetic field and an electric field, both of which are important components of the electromagnetic field. This electromagnetic radiation is responsible for creating negative effects on human body. The magnetic component is even more dangerous because it gives out more EMF. The strength of this magnetic field usually depends on how much current flows through the wires, the voltage and the configuration of those wires.
What Can You Do to Protect from EMF?
Sometimes, you think there are no visible power lines in your area, but there may still be underground cables posing health risks. Some household products, such as microwave, computer, blender, clothes washer, etc., can also have EMF. It means even if you think you're far from power lines, it is still a good idea to take some protections from EMFs.
Why is electromagnetic radiation dangerous?
The magnetic component is even more dangerous because it gives out more EMF. The strength of this magnetic field usually depends on how much current flows through the wires, the voltage and the configuration of those wires.
What are the effects of living close to power lines?
Depression. A research conducted on the psychological effects of living close to power lines showed exposure to extremely low frequency EMF might contribute to the number of depression-related suicides in people living close to those power sources. EMF was responsible for disruption in circadian rhythm cycles, alteration in melatonin ...
What are the health problems associated with living near power lines?
Here are the most common issues you may experience when living near power lines. 1. Childhood Leukemia.
How far away should you keep cell phones?
Keep cordless phones, cell phones, clocks and other electrical devices at least six feet from where you sleep.
How far away from a power line is a safe distance?
The safe distance from these power lines would be at least 700 feet. If you are using a gaussmeter, make sure that the reading shows 0.5 milligauss or less.
Why are power lines placed close to residential areas?
For decades, the government has allowed regular power lines to be placed close to residential areas because they are following the results of outdated research, which doesn’t consider recent links of power lines to newfound diseases.
What is the best way to measure electromagnetic radiation?
This device is used to test the strength of the magnetic field around your residential area.
What is the safest exposure level?
Most of the countries have set their standard for safe exposure at 1000 milligauss.
How many people are at risk of leukemia if they live 200 meters from power lines?
Findings revealed that the kids who lived 200 meters from power lines had a 69% higher risk of leukemia. On the other hand, those who were at least 600 meters away only had a 23% risk.
Can you get away with exposure safety?
Sure, you can get away with it because of the government’s outdated exposure safety standards. But can you really live with the fact that you are passing the problem to someone else?
Is leukemia near power lines?
Apart from these, research has also found there may be a link to leukemia and being near power lines. This argument has long been debated, and the results have been varying ever since.
How close to a power line is leukemia?
A case-control study by Crespi and colleagues (British Journal of Cancer 115:122, 2016) examined rates of childhood leukemia in relation to 200 kV power line proximity (two groups: <50 m and >50 m). They found a slightly higher rate of childhood leukemia for residents living within 50 meters of power lines, but this was a trend only and not significant (odds ratio 1.4).
What would happen if a power line discharged?
A discharge would kill animals or set fire to structures, so those safety factors are always followed. What seems a matter of concern is not electrical discharge, but magnetic and radio frequency emissions from the power cables. All lines which transmit current produce magnetic fields. Shielding insulation, in the form of plastic ...
How much EMF is in a power tower?
Most nations set daily (24-hour) exposure limits to EMF at 1000 mG (milliGauss); the US currently has no set guidelines for EMF exposure limits, citing a lack of conclusive evidence they pose a public health threat. Exposure to the large power transmission lines (345 kV) directly under the tower is only 96 mG, diminishing to less than 20 mG beyond 50 m.
What is the intensity of a source on a target over a distance?
For example, the intensity of a source on a target over a distance is 1.0, twice that distance becomes 0.25 for the same area, three times that distance becomes 0.11, and so on.
Why are high voltage transmission lines called high voltage?
These high-tension lines are so called because of the size of electric cables strung between towers under high-tension. They also form the main electricity conduits ferrying current between powerplants and communities, therefore they are also known as high voltage transmission lines.
Is a power line a health hazard?
When considering whether or not power lines pose a health hazard from long-term exposure to EMF or magnetic fields, it is best not to listen to anecdotal reports from people who lived near them or the opinions of people who write blogs about the dangers of living in industrial civilization. The best source of information with the least amount of bias comes from peer-reviewed, scientific studies.
Is there consensus on the threshold for human safety?
The threshold for human safety is a debated quantity and there is no consensus, although there are regulatory limits in some countries. The official position from regulatory agencies is that current safety factors are adequate and power lines pose no health threat to people. There are well-done studies that corroborate these positions.
What percentage of studies found exposure to power frequency fields had no effect on subjects?
46 percent of those studies found exposure to power frequency fields had no effect on subjects.
How to measure EMFs?
If you are concerned about electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by a power line or substation near your home, you should contact your local power company to schedule an on-site reading. You can also measure EMFs yourself with a gaussmeter or magnetometer. If you’re house hunting and the thought of buying a property near high-voltage power ...
Can you live near power lines?
Studies on the effects of living within close proximity to power lines are mixed. If you're concerned, you should contact your power company for an EMF reading.
Can proximity to power lines cause cancer?
In fact, many researchers have studied whether proximity to power lines might be the cause of leukemia and other cancers, abnormal heart rhythms, miscarriages, low birth weight and birth defects; the results of those studies have been mixed.
What is a safe distance for a home near high voltage power lines?
It is difficult to simply attach a ‘value’ to what a safe distance might be.
Where are homes built too close to power lines?
Homes built way too close to power lines in Nieuw-Beijerland in the Netherlands.
How does electricity flow?
When electricity flows an electromagnetic field is created that kind of swirls around the source of the radiation like a whirl wind. Its strength depends on a number of factors, but how much and how strong the electricity is that flows through is significant. As you move further away from the source, the strength of the magnetic field would normally reduce. Magnetic fields can be larger than you think.
What type of radiation is found in most homes?
The consultant can then also investigate for the more common radiation types we find in most homes (electric fields in the bedroom and radio frequency radiation from phone towers etc.), and explain what needs to be ‘updated’ to the property to create a healthier environment inside.
What is the maximum exposure to electromagnetic fields?
In most countries the maximum ‘safe’ exposure to electromagnetic fields is 1000mG. Have a look at the table below what peer reviewed research has found over the years: 1000 mG. Many governments safe maximum.
What is the green light for a home?
Once you find a home where the values are under the 0.8mG or 0.3mG depending on the instrument method of measuring , it seems to be giving you the ‘green light’. The smart thing to do, is to then get a professional to do a pre-purchase inspection and reconfirm your good findings before buying or renting a property. Just like you wouldn’t think twice about organising a pest inspection or structural building inspection before buying a home.
Can you measure EMF on a property?
The best solution is to measure EMF exposure on a property near ANY power lines and you can do this yourself initially. You may be shocked to find out how many homes are affected by this and that many of those homes are nowhere near those ‘big’ high voltage power lines.
What Are the Pros of Living Near Power Lines?
Living near power lines isn’t a very popular option, so for this reason, you’ll find less crowded neighborhoods. You’ll also find more bang for your buck when it comes to property prices.
Why is living near power lines good?
Because of the cheaper cost and less crowded neighborhoods, you’re also likely to get a much larger property size. Living near power lines can be an excellent way to get your dream home on a first home budget. It’s also a great idea for a starter home while you budget and save for something more expensive. 3.
Why is living near power lines less expensive?
This can mean that you’ll get the same or comparable home for less simply because it’s near power lines. Because of the cheaper cost and less crowded neighborhoods, you’re also likely to get a much larger property size.
Why does my power line make a hum?
If you’ve ever heard how quiet it is when the power is out, you know there’s a “hum” to electricity. When the field strength on the high voltage line conductor is greater than the surrounding air, it emits a noise. This isn’t a loud noise, but it could be enough to bother you if you love stone-cold silence.
How far can a magnetic field reach?
The current thinking is that a magnetic field can reach distances of 10 to 200 feet. A generally accepted safe distance away from power lines (due to their higher power) is 700 feet.
Why are neighborhoods less crowded?
Because there’s somewhat of a stigma with living near power lines, which we’ll describe later– it’s not everyone’s first choice. Therefore, neighborhoods are typically less crowded, which often means more space between houses. Less densely packed neighborhoods mean less traffic, noise, and pollution.
Does living near power lines lower property value?
Articles have claimed that living near power lines can lower property values by 30%, but there isn’t supporting evidence. A recent study on the West Coast found an almost 300K home sold for an average of $5,000 less. A $500,000 house sold for $12,500 less on average when near power lines, just 2.5% lower.
