Study: Power Lines Probably Risky

Wired.com ^ | 8/19/02 | Paul Boutin

[GeneD]

The final report of a contested eight-year, $7 million study soon to be released by the California Department of Health Services may be the most credible statement yet on the connection between electric power lines and a variety of health problems.

[HassanBenSobar]

Junk science, the indispensible tool for envirowhackos and greedy plaintiffs attorneys.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

"No one can say this thing is settled. But what they're saying is that after all this time, they think there's something there."

That's what I say when my toilet won't flush and water overflows onto the floor.

Where is the cause/effect proof?

[Lokibob]

The solution to this is to take down all high voltage lines running into California. Then the enviro wackos will be very happy with just how dark it can get at night.

[HassanBenSobar]

Ahhh, but that's just the beginning, you see, because everything that uses electricity is harmful, and must be prohibited...

I wonder if one of the doctors who believed this nonsense was named 'Kaczinski'.

[backhoe]

Long before the web, I read a study of EMF effects on cable splicers- the guys who handle high-voltage, live cable, with insanely high ( can't recall the figures ) levels of gauss- the strength of the magnetic field.

They had no higher incidence of disease than the general population they were compared to.

[NewHampshireDuo]

...estimating that a $5 billion investment to reduce EMFs from distribution lines running to homes and businesses would save a thousand lives over the 35-year lifetime of the equipment.

If there is a connection, let's see: $5 billion for 1000 people divided by 35 years - that's 28 lives per year and $5 million spent per life saved. Ah.....

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I'd pay $5 million for my life. :)

[Argus]

I live right underneath the high voltage transmission lines running across the San Fernando Valley, and I've always thought this stuff was bunk.

[randita]

more nonsense for the archives

[lewislynn]

"No one can say this thing is settled. But what they're saying is that after all this time, they think there's something there."

What they mean is:
"No one can dare say this thing is settled. For if they do then years of future work and millions of future dollars would be unnecessary.

So they'll always say "they think there's something there." To keep the work and the dollars flowing.

These are the same like minds that "think" SUV's are destroying the planet and windmill farms can cause changes in weather patterns.

[backhoe]

I sure wish I could recall more details- it was in the WSJ, early 1990's, I think, and they checked for leukemia and several other cancers, as well as nervous system diseases.

Don't forget, electrical phenomena is an inverse square law obeyer-- you go twice as far away, you see a 2 X 2 reduction in field strength. The cable splicers were chosen because they work immersed in electrical and magnetic energy.

[TightSqueeze]

I live right underneath the high voltage transmission lines running across the San Fernando Valley, and I've always thought this stuff was bunk. he said glowingly.

[laredo44]

"This is a health department," Slesin said. "Most of the other people working in this area are more tied into the electric utility industry. When the health people get involved, their objectives are health, not to worry about economic impact.

Here's the deal, Stupid Cupid: you can take the aspirin, avoid the heart attack, and risk stomach trouble, or not. For those needing a translation, if Mr. Public Health is worried about electric problems messing up his health, stay away from electricity. Of course to do that, you need to give up the bennies of current.

[laredo44]

While acknowledging the possibility there may be no connection between EMFs and any of the various illnesses, all three estimated the probability of a cause-and-effect relationship at above 50 percent for the four medical problems listed above.

For the tort lawyer, it just doesn't get any sweeter than that. Proof positive somebody (preferably somebody with deep pockets) has gotta pay.

[Waco]

B.S.P.H.&D.

[Leisler]

Dewire the house.

[Argus]

Thanks for the input. My kids are rather tall and, uh, otherworldly. And my dogs drink out of the pool all day long.

[js1138]

Where I studied statistics, estimates of probability had to reach 95 percent to be considered significant.

Missing from all this mumbo-jumbo is an estimate of the number of people affected and the quantities of EMF energy they were exposed to. Harmful poisons, whether chemical or radiation based, always have a dose-related effect. So where are the charts showing the dose relationship?