Re: [GBlist] underground lines vs. overhead

["Richard Averett" <averettr@norwich.net>]

Also, with respect to potential harmful EM effects, not only is the distance
to the conductor (or transformer) important, but so is the issue of
"dosimetry" - is it 'better' to have the EM field impinging on the skull
area (from overhead wires - where the power levels will be highest), or from
the "bottom-up", as will be the case with a buried conductor?


----- Original Message -----
From: "Corwyn" <corwyn@midcoast.com>
To: "Martin&Caruso" <itchpeople@islc.net>
Cc: "Corwyn" <corwyn@midcoast.com>; <greenbuilding@crest.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 7:24 PM
Subject: Re: [GBlist] underground lines vs. overhead



On Sunday, Sep 22, 2002, at 18:02 US/Eastern, Martin&Caruso wrote:
> What I wonder about though, is that I have heard and read from lots of
> different sources that the radiation or whatever it is from power
> lines and transformers can have bad effects on living things, such as
> possibly causing cancer. There was a program on discovery a few years
> ago about a community where several families lost many of the members
> to cancer and it was attributed to the presence of a transformer on
> their street. I also remember reading something about a dairy farmer
> whose cattle were having problems that seemed unexplainable until they
> were removed from the area of the power pole. Did anyone else ever
> hear this?

I believe that most of these cases are for high voltage wires, such as
main trunks from power stations.  I know that, despite what is claimed,
I can sense these, and get an uncomfortable feeling when passing
underneath them.

Basically, if low voltage electricity caused an significant amount of
cancer, we would all have it, as we are surrounded by it everyday.  And
I suspect a large percentage of the population would say it is worth
it.  Certainly everyone has a transformer on their street if they have
any AC at all.  You probably have a hundred in your house.

As to the difference between overhead and underground, if I recall
correctly, that the issue seems to be one of magnetic fields, then
underground is not going to be much of an improvement.   Distance from
the wires would seem the safest choice (or walking around in a faraday
cage :-).

Thank You Kindly,

Corwyn

--
Corwyn
Kermit didn't know the half of it...
Corwyn@midcoast.com


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This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
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______________________________________________________________________




______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________