h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We're looking at houses, and one of the properties we may be interested in is next door to a lot with lots of power lines and stuff in it (transformers, maybe?) I seem to remember seeing or hearing somewhere that there was concern about living near powerlines, but I may have heard/seen it a couple of decades ago or more, so I don't remember enough to even do an effective search. Is there anything to worry about, or does this house just have an ugly lot next door?

This was press hysteria, there's been no evidence found of any ill effects caused by this. And there has been a *lot* of research into it.

Just ugly.

Traveller in Time surrounded by transformers and power lines
"---There is no place in the 'civilised world' where you are not surrounded by electromagnetic fields.

---There have been numerous investigations for effects of these fields on the human body, no conclusive answers jet.

---The view of power lines and transformers is definitely a drawback for a house location, as is a school nextdoor.


The transformers are of most concern, if overloaded for long enough they do sometimes explode. The construction should guide the force of the explosion up, however . . "

The main thing I would worry about is the hum of the transformers. This is not very noticeable, but it annoys some people.

The actual electromagnetic effects you get from the powerlines are far less than the amount of electromagnetics you are exposed to by having electricity in your house. Sitting at a computer, watching television or making yourself a cup of tea with an electric kettle all expose you to low (safe) levels of EM and the amount from powerlines is less than these since it drops off rapidly with distance.

The humming of the fridge doesn't bother me--how much louder could lines outside of a house be (from inside the house)? Considering the contour of the coast here, and the prevailing wind direction, probably the sea lions' barking would annoy me more Since it appears the property in question is fully fenced (couldn't snoop around, as it's occupied) I wouldn't even have to worry about a certain curious little girl trying to squeeze into what is probably a substation to explore.

hmm.. the humming of a good natured fridge is definitely different from the transformers songs. I suggest to go listen to them late at night. Many people just cannot hear it, but if your ears are good enough and not destroyed by heavy industries ...

oh, by the way.. I'm not sure what sort of substation it is, but there is a chance that you can hear switches opening .. don't worry about that, the sound may be a bit loud but it'll not take long

and a substation is a very unhealthy playground, more so if you're over six feet tall or into climbing high voltage masts.

There have been hundreds of investigations, research projects, tons of statistical data gathered, and there's no relation between living near a substation and health problems.

Unless, of course, a winter storm blows something over, but that danger's possible anywhere there's above ground wires.

OK, I must be tired, I had to retype just about everything.

Thanks, all! I did seem to remember (before I asked the original question) that things had been debunked, but it certainly doesn't hurt to ask

Somewhat related question ... what about mobile telephone masts? We've got a whole whack of them on the roof of our building.

az

Here's a question. Which gives a stronger signal, a mobile phone mast a hundred yards away or a mobile phone pressed to the side of your head?

It has actually been argued that if you live close to a mast you're actually receiving *less* radiation, because your phone is producing a weaker signal (it doesn't have to shout). Surely, though, this is true only if you spend a *lot* of time on the mobile phone.

TRiG.

Just to add my voice to the concensus, there is no reason to worry about powerlines.

However, there are a *lot* of people who do, and I think there numbers are increasing. No matter how misguided they may be, there will be a lot of potential buyers put off by the substation, so you need to factor that in to the price. Of course if you're paying under the odds already then fair enough.

No reason to worry about phone masts either. The signal strength drops off very rapidly with distance and the antennas themselves are very directional, so in practice the main beam goes right over your head, unless you climb the mast.

If you really want to worry about EM radiation, then turn off the lights in your house. Light bulbs use far greater power levels (100W), transmit continuously and isotropically (in all directions) and at far higher frequencies (up to 750 THz).

Thanks DaveBlackeye,

I've been pestering my landlord about all these mobile phone masts up on the roof - I reckon he gets quite a good rental income for having them there - and he said something similar. That all the *scary beams* were going right over our heads, so they'd give all our neighbours cancer but not us (I think he was rolling his eyes when he said this).

az

Just in case anyone was wondering... We looked at the house today, and turns out the substation's shut down, so there wouldn't be anything to worry about even if there were anything to worry about