Louise’s Science Homework

1. Louise’s Science Homework Does living close to high tension power lines, cell phone towers or wireless technology cause dangers to human health?

2. High Tension Power Lines • In electric power broadcast engineering, high voltage is usually considered any voltage over approximately 35,000 volts. This classification is based on the design of equipment and insulation. • High tension power lines • Electrical transmission and distribution lines for electric power always use voltages significantly higher than 50 volts, so contact with digging into a buried cable can also be dangerous to workers at an excavation site. Digging equipment (either hand tools or machine driven) that contacts a buried cable may energize piping or the ground in the area, resulting in electrocution of nearby workers. A fault in a high-voltage transmission line or substation may result in high currents flowing along the surface of the earth, producing an earth potential rise that also presents a danger of electric shock. • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_voltage

3. Power Lines Are Dangerous • A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that invisible electromagnetic fields (EMFs) -- created by everything from high-voltage utility company lines to personal computers, microwave ovens, TVs and even electric blankets -- are linked to a frightening array of cancers and other serious health problems in children and adults. • The report cited studies that show EMFs can disturb the production of the hormone melatonin, which is linked with sleep patterns. It said there was strong evidence that children exposed to EMFs had a higher risk of leukaemia. • Now a surprising new report released in February by physicists at Britain's University of Bristol shows that power lines attract particles of radon -- a colourless, odourless gas irrefutably linked with cancer. • http://www.midtod.com/9603/voltage.phtml

4. Counterargument • ... But there are two better designed studies. One of the largest studies to date, conducted by the Children’s Cancer Group, failed to demonstrate any statistically significant relationship of either directly measured EMFs or wiring codes in the homes of 638 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia as compared to controls. The second study was a meta-analysis that pooled the data of nine separate studies. It showed that of the 3203 children with leukaemia exposed to less than 0.4 µT of directly measured EMFs, there was no significant relationship when compared to controls. The one caveat of this meta-analysis is that less than one percent of the pooled study participants (44 children) were exposed to EMF levels greater than 0.4 µT and had a relative risk of 2 in the development of leukaemia. Again, the small sample size has critics questioning the validity of this positive finding. • Overall, there is little evidence demonstrating that living near power lines increases the risk of cancer, particularly childhood leukaemia's. Media supported paranoia can be a powerful force as people to this date still believe an association may exist (myself included prior to researching this post). Also it is important to note that even though we are increasingly exposed to EMFs as technology infiltrates every aspect of our lives, the overall incidence of leukaemia has been slowly declining for several decades. Therefore high tension power lines are harmless. • http://www.clinicalcorrelations.org/?p=1425

5. Cell Phones and Wireless Devices • Every day, we’re swimming in a sea of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) produced by electrical appliances, power lines, wiring in buildings, and a slew of other technologies that are part of modern life. From the dishwasher and microwave oven in the kitchen and the clock radio next to your bed, to the cellular phone you hold to your ear—sometimes for hours each day—exposure to EMR is growing and becoming a serious health threat. • But there’s a huge public health crisis looming from one particular threat: EMR from cellular phones—both the radiation from the handsets and from the tower-based antennas carrying the signals—which studies have linked to development of brain tumours, genetic damage, and other exposure-related conditions

6. Cell Phone Radiation: What You Need to Know • Originally developed for the Department of Defence, cell phones devices were never tested for safety. They entered the marketplace due to a regulatory loophole. • Questions about cell phone safety arose in the early 1990s, when a businessman filed a lawsuit alleging that cell phones caused his wife’s death due to brain cancer. • To address the questions surrounding cell phone safety, the cell phone industry set up a non-profit organization, Wireless Technology Research (WTR). Dr. George Carlo was appointed to head WTR’s research efforts. • Under Dr. Carlo’s direction, scientists found that cell phone radiation caused DNA damage, impaired DNA repair, and interfered with cardiac pacemakers. • European research confirmed Dr. Carlo’s findings. Studies suggest that cell phone radiation contributes to brain dysfunction, tumours, and potentially to conditions such as autism, attention deficit disorder, neurodegenerative disease, and behavioural and psychological problems. • Dr. Carlo brought safety information about cell phones to the public through his book, Cell Phones: Invisible Hazards in the Wireless Age, and by creating the Safe Wireless Initiative and the Mobile Telephone Health Concerns Registry. • The best protection against cell phone radiation is keeping a safe distance. • Always use a headset to minimize exposure to harmful cell phone radiation • http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/aug2007_report_cellphone_radiation_01.htm

7. Counterargument • How did cell phones causing cancer become one of our pop culture myths? • It started in 1993, when a guy named David Raynard went on CNN's Larry King Live to talk about his lawsuit against the cellular phone industry over the death of his wife from brain cancer, who used a cell phone. Certainly we all sympathize with Mr. Raynard, but that doesn't make him right. Unfortunately for rationalism, being on Larry King was all the credibility the story needed to become a popular belief. Despite Mr. Raynard's claim that his wife's tumour was in the same shape as the cell phone antenna, the case was thrown out for a lack of evidence. • Another reason the belief persists is that it is constantly being promoted by companies selling quack devices claimed to protect consumers from any potential threat. Spreading fear is a major marketing angle that they employ. Cardo Systems, a maker of cell phone headset, broadly promoted as the best way to minimize danger of radiation, famously released a set of hoax videos on YouTube showing people popping popcorn by setting some kernels on a table between several activated cell phones. When nailed for the hoax by CNN, Cardo's CEO claimed that the videos were meant only as a joke and that the thought of scaring people into thinking that cell phones could pop popcorn never entered their minds. You can judge the credibility of that statement for yourself. • There are also a number of videos on YouTube showing eggs being hard boiled merely by placing them between two activated cell phones for a few minutes. This claim has also been thoroughly debunked. The British TV show Brainiac even tried it with 100 phones. The result? Zippo. It didn't change the egg's temperature at all. Raw as ever. • http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4117

8. My Opinion • I think that the cell phone, high tension power lines cause things like brain cancer is a myth, or doesn’t have enough evidence to support it as a fact, yes there are some coincidences with some people who have cancer live near power lines or use their cell phone too much have cancer. I say if your worried don’t buy a house near a high tension power lines or don’t use your cell phone constantly.