[TowerTalk] High tension lines

[Alan NV8A]

Perhaps somewhere in my collection of clippings I still have the article 
I found many years ago in the reputable UK _Wireless World_ publication 
(which has since changed its name, I think). I don't recall the author's 
name, but he argued that the confusing findings in studies of possible 
correlation between proximity to HV lines and the incidence of cancer 
was due to the failure to distinguish between 50Hz transmission systems 
and those using 60Hz. Somewhere between those frequencies, he argued, 
was some crucial turning point in the effect on the human body.

Alan NV8A


On 08/15/06 06:30 am Craig Clark wrote:

> With all due respect, there has not been a correlation of cancer to 
> high tension lines. In 1979, Brodeur wrote "The Zapping of America" 
> where he tried to correlate cancers to proximity to high tension 
> lines and electrical substations. He followed up with several other 
> long screeds in the New Yorker Magazine on the same subject. All were 
> long on emotion but short on science.
> 
> At Ham Radio Magazine, we supported quite a bit of research on RF 
> radiation and cancers working with some of the best in the field of 
> radio and  epidemiology. As I remember, this was the area Overbeck 
> was most concerned about due to his activity on the VHF/UHF 
> bands.  What we found was that non-ionizing radiation was unlikely to 
> cause any form of cancer. This is what you have around power lines 
> and HF amateur radio stations.
> 
> I know nothing about the medical reasons of susceptibility to 
> cancer.  I do know that Brodeur was manipulating facts to prove his point.
> 
> Finally, I personally would not locate my ham station anywhere near a 
> high tension line.