Dr Elwood Presentation on Transmission Line Radiation

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Power Lines and Health –

Cause, Coincidence orConspiracy?

Mark Elwood

[email protected]

Pacific Energy Innovation Association April 25, 2007



Monday, 16 December, 2002, 09:16 GMT

Health fears over phone mast

People living near a telecommunications mast in County Tyrone,which was destroyed by vandals, have said they believe it isresponsible for cancer-related illnesses in the area.

There have

been a number ofother people inthat area who

have had cancerand obviously

local people arevery concerned

Anthony McGonnellSDLP



50-60 Hz

800 –

2450 MHz

Radiation!



Roger R Conant, Feb 2001

I used to be a NIMBY.

Now I am a BANANA,

and apparently I will soon become a NOPE.

We stand for "Not in My Back Yard";

"Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone,"

and we soon will be urging "Not On Planet Earth."

Here is a better term for us:

PATER, for 'Pay Attention to Electromagnetic Research.'



Outrage factors

• Hazard is imposed by ‘them’ – nobody asked me

• Inequities of risk – why me?

• Lack of control – what can I do?

• New hazard – we weren’t meant to live with this

• Technology – it’s not natural• Why? – it’s all to benefit ‘them’

• Information – ‘they’ don’t tell us the true facts

• Confusion – the experts all disagree

• Distrust – ‘they’ control the experts and the research



Opinion surveys in several countries

A large proportion of people:

• Don’t believe mobile phones are safe to use

• Believe that the benefits outweigh the risks• Hear many conflicting opinions about the risks

• Believe companies are withholding informationabout health risks

Based on a presentation by S. Workman, Vodafone, at theGSME/EC/MMF Third Mobile Communications Seminar,2006



How much is safe ??

ICNIRP Guidelines: for 50 Hz

International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection

Minimum level biological effect –phosphenes; induced current to produce 100 mA/m2

Reference levels (magnetic & electric fields)

Occupation /10 = 5000 mG and 10 mV/m

Population /50 = 1000 mG and 2 mV/m

833 mG at 60 Hz



At 20 metres: 20 mG

ICNIRP: 1000 mG



Powerlines and

cancer ??



Animal experimental studies

• Laboratory animals• Exposure to 50-60 Hz electric or magnetic

fields over a lifetime

• Exposure levels high

• Results: no increase in cancers• But note, no animal analogue of childhoodleukemia



Cellular experimental studies

• Cells or tissues• Exposure to 50-60 Hz electric or magnetic fields

• Assess DNA damage, transformation to cancer

cells, structural, or functional damage

• Results: mostly, no evidence of cancer-type

actions;• some effects at > 1000 mG, but not replicated

• effects of EMF + other factors at > 1000 mG



Epidemiological studies Epidemiological studies

Measured orcalculated EMF

exposures in home,school, etc

Unaffected children,same age, sex, etc

(controls)

Children who havehad leukaemiadiagnosed(cases)



Epidemiological studies

• where home exposures, averaged over 24-48 hours, are over 3 or 4 mG (0.3 -0.4 µT)

• Risk of leukemia is doubled

• Maybe 7% of children in this range

• Absolute risk increase 7% or 21 cases per year

in Canada (total cases 330)• 17 in 2000 children get leukemia by age 19

• 1 of these might be due to ELF if it is the cause



At 20 metres: 20 mG

ICNIRP: 1000 mG

Epi studies: 3 mG



Increased risk of Increased risk of leukemialeukemia in children with higherin children with higher magnetic fields exposures magnetic fields exposures – – what are the possiblewhat are the possible

reasons? reasons?

3. Chance variationand small numbers

2. Some other factorsassociated with homeswith higher magnetic

fields

1. Selection issues– not all case and

control children andfamilies participate

4. Cause and effect



International Agency for Research on Cancer

(part of World Health Organization)

i i

( )



io

a n Envi n



Precautionary Principle

• It is applicable?• If so, what does it mean (14+ legal

interpretations)

• If so, what does it imply?

• Does current practice follow it?



Thank you for listening!

Mark Elwood

[email protected]

This presentation is given by Dr Mark

Elwood, and the views given should

not be attributed to any other person or

organisation.

Dr Elwood Presentation on Transmission Line Radiation

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