[DrCaleb]

So central Albertans are up in arms over the Heartland Electricity transmissionproject. One school even says it will have to close because the transmission lines will pass along the back of their property, too close to the property for untold 'damage' to the children. Now, lets put aside the fact there are no studies that have shown any causal relation between 60hz power and any sort of genetic anomolies resulting from it, and take a simple approach to this alarmism.

Do plants grow under power lines? Do animals live around, near and on power lines? Ok. So, it appears to be safe for other life to be near, in and around. Let's introduce a thing here known as the 'Inverse Square law'. Electromagnetic Radiation's strength acts in such a way that it's relative effects reduce with the square of the distance away from it. So if a candle is brightness "1" at 1 metre, it is brightness 1/2 at 2m, 1/9 at 3m, 1/16 at 4m, and so on.

This is one reason why you can't sit under a power line with an open transformer and get 'free' energy. It becomes too far away too quickly.

So, some people want the power line buried. That is, take the 20 story (~200 foot) foot towers and replace them with a protected line 6 to 10 feet underground. Think about that for a minute, given the inverse square law. 200 feet in the air, or 10 feet below ground. Hmmm.

Now, if you told these people that want to 'protect the children' that you'd be placing a high frequency microwave transmitter and reciever right beside their child's head for hours a day, I bet you'd get a bad reaction. But these people will still be buying many of these kids cell phones!

It just wobbles my mind.

It reminds me of a story I heard. A new cell phone tower was being erected in some nameless neighbourhood. Residents were complaining of all sorts of ills, from headaches and nausea to sleeplessness. The cell phone company put up a letter of apology in the newspaper, saying they hoped the symptoms would subside over the next weeks, after they turned the transmitter on.

[Zipperfish]

We live in a huge electromagnetic field. That's why compasses point north. Duh

[raydan]

I know that stray voltage does affect livestock but I guess that they can control that fairly well today. Me, I wouldn't want to live directly underneath high voltage lines, but that's about it. The other thing that would bother me is the noise they make in certain weather conditions. When I went cross-country skiing last winter a cold and humid day, I could clearly hear the noise the lines made, even a few hundred meters away.

[bootlegga]

They build transmission lines fairly close to schools here in Edmonton - Dunluce elementary in CastleDowns has a transmission line run right past the playground and sports field.

Personally I don't like the hum they emit and while there may not be any studies linking health issues to living in close proximity to them, I feel why chance it.

I think it people don't like it, then fine, sell your property and move somewhere else. You can't let progress stop because you don't like something. Adapt and deal with it, or just move.

[DrCaleb]

bootlegga wrote:

Personally I don't like the hum they emit and while there may not be any studies linking health issues to living in close proximity to them, I feel why chance it.

If you stand under a power line with a compass, it still points north.

Which is a more powerful EM field?

But I agree, if you are uncomfortable, moving is in your future.