Living close to pylons - health issues?
Discussion
The OH bought an EMF detector as we're looking at houses and she's read stuff which suggests that you shouldn't live within a certain distance of a pylon because the level of EMF will be high enough to be detrimental to your health.
We've held it up against electrical cables in the house, appliances, etc. and sure enough, it registers when it's close to a current. Today we went to a house that we're interested, which is about 200m from a pylon, and got the EMF detector out. Nothing. Then we went and stood under the pylon concerned. Still nothing.
Is it unhealthy to live near a pylon? If so, is she barking up the wrong tree with the EMF thing - is it something else that can cause health problems?
We've held it up against electrical cables in the house, appliances, etc. and sure enough, it registers when it's close to a current. Today we went to a house that we're interested, which is about 200m from a pylon, and got the EMF detector out. Nothing. Then we went and stood under the pylon concerned. Still nothing.
Is it unhealthy to live near a pylon? If so, is she barking up the wrong tree with the EMF thing - is it something else that can cause health problems?
Simple answer, no.
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf...
Electromagnetic emmisions can be harmful, but it's all to do with energy. And the energy of EM radiation decreases rapidly at range in line with the inverse-square law.
Your phone, your router, your TV, your smart watch all emit radiation. But it's low power, generally distanced from you, and exposes you to an incredibly low amount of EM radiation.
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf...
Electromagnetic emmisions can be harmful, but it's all to do with energy. And the energy of EM radiation decreases rapidly at range in line with the inverse-square law.
Your phone, your router, your TV, your smart watch all emit radiation. But it's low power, generally distanced from you, and exposes you to an incredibly low amount of EM radiation.
MitchT said:
If so, is she barking up the wrong tree with the EMF thing - is it something else that can cause health problems?
Probably barking up wrong tree.Lots of other things can cause health problems. Poorly ventilated houses, too many chemicals, poor diet, etc.
Having enough time on your hands to get to the point of thinking EMF might cause this. Too many medical books, etc.
king mental if she thinks that it could affect you at that range. A friend has one in his back garden and it causes no problems.There are no proven health issues associated with pylons, if the concern is electromagnetic fields then unless you have been living in a cave without electricity then any exposure will be the same in the new place as it was in the old place.
EMF seems to be the latest social panic that cannot be proven one way or the other so I would not be worried on this issue, that said the aesthetics of having pylons nearby is something I would prefer not to have and would either walk away or negotiate the price accordingly.
Is it a dream house?
EMF seems to be the latest social panic that cannot be proven one way or the other so I would not be worried on this issue, that said the aesthetics of having pylons nearby is something I would prefer not to have and would either walk away or negotiate the price accordingly.
Is it a dream house?
I work in electronics development, sometimes in industrial environments that have huge current and voltages around, and have no issues in doing so. But would I live under a pylon? Nope. The professional side of me knows all the engineering and testing that has gone into the pylons and lines, but the caveman side of me knows how much current is flowing through those lines at 33kV, and what it can do, and what happens when big heavy metal structures collapse in high winds.
It is not dissimilar to the fear you get when you step onto those glass floors suspended high above the ground in a tall building. No matter how much you rationalise it away, part of your brain is going "yeah, but what if..." and you can't turn that off. Caveman responses like that are why humans are still around today, rational or irrational, and they go very deep indeed.
The EMF meter is pure woo-woo.
It is not dissimilar to the fear you get when you step onto those glass floors suspended high above the ground in a tall building. No matter how much you rationalise it away, part of your brain is going "yeah, but what if..." and you can't turn that off. Caveman responses like that are why humans are still around today, rational or irrational, and they go very deep indeed.
The EMF meter is pure woo-woo.
Zad said:
I work in electronics development, sometimes in industrial environments that have huge current and voltages around, and have no issues in doing so. But would I live under a pylon? Nope. The professional side of me knows all the engineering and testing that has gone into the pylons and lines, but the caveman side of me knows how much current is flowing through those lines at 33kV, and what it can do, and what happens when big heavy metal structures collapse in high winds.
It is not dissimilar to the fear you get when you step onto those glass floors suspended high above the ground in a tall building. No matter how much you rationalise it away, part of your brain is going "yeah, but what if..." and you can't turn that off. Caveman responses like that are why humans are still around today, rational or irrational, and they go very deep indeed.
The EMF meter is pure woo-woo.
i thimk that;s probably the bigger worry if you live close to 33 , 132 , 275 or 400 KV grid ... It is not dissimilar to the fear you get when you step onto those glass floors suspended high above the ground in a tall building. No matter how much you rationalise it away, part of your brain is going "yeah, but what if..." and you can't turn that off. Caveman responses like that are why humans are still around today, rational or irrational, and they go very deep indeed.
The EMF meter is pure woo-woo.
briang9 said:
that pun is Unbelievable Thanks folks - I'm really just engaging in all of this to humour the OH.
The meter was a cheap one from Amazon - cost about £15. It seems to respond well to electrical devices and cables around the home but didn't pick anything up when we went out, hence why I'm asking on here - she wanted to know why it didn't pick up a reading near a pylon if levels are supposed to be so much higher and told me to ask my 'PH friends'!
The meter was a cheap one from Amazon - cost about £15. It seems to respond well to electrical devices and cables around the home but didn't pick anything up when we went out, hence why I'm asking on here - she wanted to know why it didn't pick up a reading near a pylon if levels are supposed to be so much higher and told me to ask my 'PH friends'!
I've lived near a pylon all my life . . ..bzzzzd . . . and there's nothing wr . . . . bzzzzd . . .ong with me . . . . Helps to keep me . . .bzzzzd . . . warm in t'winter.
Seriously, two things, as said above, they can get blown over or the wires break . . . very unlikely but is possible, so that's one reason for not living very near to one. Even 33KV will sting a bit
Secondly, have you heard them buzzing ? Stand near one on a quiet day, especially if it's a damp day and you can hear them buzzing. My brain tells me not to live near something that buzzes on its own . . .
Seriously, two things, as said above, they can get blown over or the wires break . . . very unlikely but is possible, so that's one reason for not living very near to one. Even 33KV will sting a bit
Secondly, have you heard them buzzing ? Stand near one on a quiet day, especially if it's a damp day and you can hear them buzzing. My brain tells me not to live near something that buzzes on its own . . .
George111 said:
Secondly, have you heard them buzzing ?
Yes, and that reminds me, I was traveling in a car recently. Can't quite remember the circumstances or the car but every time we drove under power lines the radio, which was on, made an awful buzzing noise. I think it was tuned to MW or something. I did make me wonder!George111 said:
I've lived near a pylon all my life . . ..bzzzzd . . . and there's nothing wr . . . . bzzzzd . . .ong with me . . . . Helps to keep me . . .bzzzzd . . . warm in t'winter.
Seriously, two things, as said above, they can get blown over or the wires break . . . very unlikely but is possible, so that's one reason for not living very near to one. Even 33KV will sting a bit
Secondly, have you heard them buzzing ? Stand near one on a quiet day, especially if it's a damp day and you can hear them buzzing. My brain tells me not to live near something that buzzes on its own . . .
This on a misty or wet day all you hear is the buzzing. My grandparents had one next door and as a kid I thought the sound was cool but it also became very annoying pretty quickly. I'm sure if you live there it becomes background noise but years of visiting them I always noticed it. Seriously, two things, as said above, they can get blown over or the wires break . . . very unlikely but is possible, so that's one reason for not living very near to one. Even 33KV will sting a bit
Secondly, have you heard them buzzing ? Stand near one on a quiet day, especially if it's a damp day and you can hear them buzzing. My brain tells me not to live near something that buzzes on its own . . .
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