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Answers (9)
- Sharon Lewis, "Sharon Lewis"
- Contributions:3916
Interesting answers here,purely from a real estate professionals point of view, I have buyers who will not purchase homes near electrical towers,lines. So it could affect your resale value. Agents are supposed to point them out to buyers.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
I also forgot to mention; increased risk of heart attack for those with pacemakers, as the EMF can interfere with the pacemaker electronics.
There may also be some other nervous system disorders that are sensitive to long exposures of high intensity EMF in the 60 hz, 120 hz, 180 hz, or 300 hz range, as the nervous system is an electrical system, and not enough research has been done on those effects for those types of disorders. (The higher order harmonics die out pretty quickly, and most of the even harmonics don't show up in the current waveform distortion. Odd harmonics show up substantially with switching power supplies and motors, but are usually dissipated in the core of delta-wye transformers).
By the way, all light is also electromagnetic fields. But other than such things as sunburn and skin cancer... there is little evidence that these higher frequency EMF waves cause the same kinds of issues as high power EMF waves that are below radio frequencies.
(For those really concerned about EMF, they also should stay way from Cathode Ray tubes (older TV's and older computer monitors) as well as stay away from radio and TV transmission antennas. (The receiving antenna is usually not a problem as there is very little power there, and those receiving antennas don't emit EMF.))
And that brings up another issue for house buying near power lines... distortion of radio/television broadcast signals. In other words, "snow" or other "interference" on analog signals, and "loss of reception" on digital systems due to low a signal to noise ratio. If you use cable or satellite or DSL internet , these won't be a problem, unless of course your satellite dish has to be aimed straight across the power lines.
There may also be some other nervous system disorders that are sensitive to long exposures of high intensity EMF in the 60 hz, 120 hz, 180 hz, or 300 hz range, as the nervous system is an electrical system, and not enough research has been done on those effects for those types of disorders. (The higher order harmonics die out pretty quickly, and most of the even harmonics don't show up in the current waveform distortion. Odd harmonics show up substantially with switching power supplies and motors, but are usually dissipated in the core of delta-wye transformers).
By the way, all light is also electromagnetic fields. But other than such things as sunburn and skin cancer... there is little evidence that these higher frequency EMF waves cause the same kinds of issues as high power EMF waves that are below radio frequencies.
(For those really concerned about EMF, they also should stay way from Cathode Ray tubes (older TV's and older computer monitors) as well as stay away from radio and TV transmission antennas. (The receiving antenna is usually not a problem as there is very little power there, and those receiving antennas don't emit EMF.))
And that brings up another issue for house buying near power lines... distortion of radio/television broadcast signals. In other words, "snow" or other "interference" on analog signals, and "loss of reception" on digital systems due to low a signal to noise ratio. If you use cable or satellite or DSL internet , these won't be a problem, unless of course your satellite dish has to be aimed straight across the power lines.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
Sorry, typing error;--> inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
There are multiple factors to consider:
1) Of course the resell value of the house; but you are getting a lower price to begin with because of that.
2) The noise; some are more annoyed by it than others. And continued exposure to the same frequencies can either cause loss of hearing for those frequencies, or tinnitus. (constant ringing in the ear).
3) The potential damage to the towers. Wind may occasionally knock a line off; but for the taller steel towers, this is usually pretty rare. Something hitting them may be more likely, though most potential things that could hit them normally stay away from the. Still, airplanes have been known to run into them on rare occasions. Earthquakes could also be an issue, but if the fault wasn't right under a tower, it is fairly unlikely to cause tower failure.
4) Health impacts from electromagnetic fields. They don't affect everyone the same, but there is some evidence of increased risk of cancer (alterations to the DNA, and uncontrolled cell growth resulting from the altered DNA). The factors here are how much radiation, accumulated time of exposure, time away from the exposure for normal body healing, and specific frequencies of exposure. Other factors may include shielding that may exist either in the home, building or body, and "antenna" effects, such as metal teeth fillings or steel rods on repaired bones.
The reason people working at electrical substations and power plants rarely have these health impacts are:
1) They are usually not there more than 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
2) The equipment is usually metal enclosed, there there is some shielding of the EMF.
3) The conductors are a lot closer together, thus the strength of electromagnetic field is substantially reduced. But on the towers, the conductors of different phases have to be sufficiently separated to prevent arching and shorting, especially in windstorms.
4) The people that enter that type of field usually have a higher tolerance level to such things.
For high voltage DC power lines, there is is the additional concern of the ionization of the air. It has been shown to have unusual effects on the behavior of cows in the area. Many people think that negative ions have positive health effects, but with DC power lines, one side gets negative ions, and the other gets positive ions. And most health people agree that the positive ions are not that good for us. Some think the worst impact is just depression, but that would still be enough to want to stay away from it.
Remember, the strength of the field is proportional to the current and the voltage, proportional to the square of the distance between the conductors, and inversely proportional to the distance from the conductors to the observation point. I wouldn't want to be closer than 1/4 mile from them. I wouldn't mind nearly as much if they were underground and cabled together.
1) Of course the resell value of the house; but you are getting a lower price to begin with because of that.
2) The noise; some are more annoyed by it than others. And continued exposure to the same frequencies can either cause loss of hearing for those frequencies, or tinnitus. (constant ringing in the ear).
3) The potential damage to the towers. Wind may occasionally knock a line off; but for the taller steel towers, this is usually pretty rare. Something hitting them may be more likely, though most potential things that could hit them normally stay away from the. Still, airplanes have been known to run into them on rare occasions. Earthquakes could also be an issue, but if the fault wasn't right under a tower, it is fairly unlikely to cause tower failure.
4) Health impacts from electromagnetic fields. They don't affect everyone the same, but there is some evidence of increased risk of cancer (alterations to the DNA, and uncontrolled cell growth resulting from the altered DNA). The factors here are how much radiation, accumulated time of exposure, time away from the exposure for normal body healing, and specific frequencies of exposure. Other factors may include shielding that may exist either in the home, building or body, and "antenna" effects, such as metal teeth fillings or steel rods on repaired bones.
The reason people working at electrical substations and power plants rarely have these health impacts are:
1) They are usually not there more than 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
2) The equipment is usually metal enclosed, there there is some shielding of the EMF.
3) The conductors are a lot closer together, thus the strength of electromagnetic field is substantially reduced. But on the towers, the conductors of different phases have to be sufficiently separated to prevent arching and shorting, especially in windstorms.
4) The people that enter that type of field usually have a higher tolerance level to such things.
For high voltage DC power lines, there is is the additional concern of the ionization of the air. It has been shown to have unusual effects on the behavior of cows in the area. Many people think that negative ions have positive health effects, but with DC power lines, one side gets negative ions, and the other gets positive ions. And most health people agree that the positive ions are not that good for us. Some think the worst impact is just depression, but that would still be enough to want to stay away from it.
Remember, the strength of the field is proportional to the current and the voltage, proportional to the square of the distance between the conductors, and inversely proportional to the distance from the conductors to the observation point. I wouldn't want to be closer than 1/4 mile from them. I wouldn't mind nearly as much if they were underground and cabled together.
- shasta_steve
- Contributions:448
I feel bad for you and I agree with sunnyview that houses are easier to sell without the lines nearby.
My own personal opinion is I highly doubt this is what is causing all your problems. I work in the power industry and have set through several classes dealing with electrical magnetic fields. Everyone of them ends pretty much the same way saying they are not exactly sure if they affect us or not. The problem for me is we just don't seem to have that many problems with workers in the electrical industry. Sure many of the workers do not spend all their time around the lines but many work in substations or power plants where they are very close to very high voltages all their working hours. You would think would would be having a huge amount of problems but really it does not seem to be any more than the general population.
For me I would be more worried about other environmental factors such as lead paint, radon, or asbestos. Again sorry for all your problems, and if it makes you feel better then by all means you should move, but I have doubts that it is all caused by the electrial lines.
My own personal opinion is I highly doubt this is what is causing all your problems. I work in the power industry and have set through several classes dealing with electrical magnetic fields. Everyone of them ends pretty much the same way saying they are not exactly sure if they affect us or not. The problem for me is we just don't seem to have that many problems with workers in the electrical industry. Sure many of the workers do not spend all their time around the lines but many work in substations or power plants where they are very close to very high voltages all their working hours. You would think would would be having a huge amount of problems but really it does not seem to be any more than the general population.
For me I would be more worried about other environmental factors such as lead paint, radon, or asbestos. Again sorry for all your problems, and if it makes you feel better then by all means you should move, but I have doubts that it is all caused by the electrial lines.
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25127
I am so sorry all that happened to your family booboody. Hopefully, you were able to move out of that house and I hope things are better now.
I totally agree with you. I think better safe than sorry and I would pass on any house with high voltage lines close by. Besides houses without powerlines are easier to sell when you do move so why take the risk.
I totally agree with you. I think better safe than sorry and I would pass on any house with high voltage lines close by. Besides houses without powerlines are easier to sell when you do move so why take the risk.
- booboody
- Contributions:1
Some so called experts say no there are no risk, while some say yes there are ririsk. But I can tell you about my experience living beside of one of these things. And yes the power lines do hum or buzz, because they go over my yard. When i moved to this location within a year I started having problems with depression, my son developed a seizure disorder, and I developed a brain tumor. Now I cant prove that the power lines or tower were the reason for these problems, but I dont need proof, I know that they were responsible. Dont ever live close to one of these towers.
- So Cal Home Automation, "SoCal HomeAutomation"
- Contributions:16
The verdict is out however it has been said, " ...brain cancer" "... limph nodes" "...sterility" the list goes on and on, I think many things have been blamed on them. Simularly with cell phone usage as well. I understand in some countries there is a clearence of 1/3 of a mile. I do know that they can set off radar detectors. Here in the U.S. the learence is around 150 feet or so. I do know some Utility companies who have their employees work on the high voltage 32000 volts etc sometimes switch people out from time to time. I personally would not live withing 1/4 mile of the incoming town electrical lines.
- Joe Nernberg, "Home Inspection Pro"
- Contributions:97
Depends on who you ask. Some will tell you that an electrical magnetic field will cause impotence and hair loss. Others will tell you the stray power will cure sore muscles.
Does the electric tower next to this house poses any danger other problem?
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