Cancer and Power lines

Epidemiologists in Denver , Los Angeles and Sweden are asking us to believe that magnetic fields of 2 milligauss from power distribution lines are a serious cause of childhood Leukemia . And they believe that low frequency electromagnetic fields ( like ovens and TV sets) of modern life threaten our health .

However, laboratory studies on animals and cell cultures have shown that weak magnetic fields can have effects on several biological processes. For example, they may alter hormone and enzyme levels and the rate of movement of some chemicals through living tissue. In the long term, they may have an effect on the incidence of cancer or other adverse health effects.

But the studies have been criticized . The studies were using data gathered from second hand

sources . They all suffer inadequate statistical samples ; in some cases , it is as little as only one case of cancer per year . The studies are mutually inconsistent and self- contradictory .

Well , "Do the all-pervasive low-frequency electromagnetic fields of modern life threaten our health ? Most probably not , judging from comparisons with the natural fields present in the

environment and in our bodies ." said William R. Bennett Jr , is a professor of Physics at

Yale University .

Well , Let's consider some natural sources of exposure .

The Earth's magnetic field is generated predominantly by circulating currents of uncertain origin well below the crust . The fields varies over the Earth's surface from about 300 mG at the equator to 700 mG at the poles .A representative value over the continental United States is

about 450 mG , about 200 times that from typical distribution lines . The magnetic field may vary about 0.1-0.3 mG due to photoionization of molecules in the upper atmosphere . For unusual solar activity sudden fluctuations often exceed 100 mG .

Again Earth's static electric field is directed downward normal to the earth's surface and is about

120 V/m near ground level , about three times the field from a 12-KV distribution line .

So, If you live in a house near one of these high-voltage power lines, you shoud not move.

But based on what we know now, we can never say there is no risk, but we can say that the risk appears to be extremely small.