Why I chose this topic
I have a large power tower that holds six electrical lines in my yard. It is thirty three feet from the west side of my home. My children climb and play under the tower almost daily. I often get questions about the tower. "How safe is it?" "Does it buzz all the time?" "Will your children get sick?" are some of the questions that are typically asked. I must admit that when I first bought the house, I asked the same questions to my realtor. I was assured that it was safe. The Department of Veteran Affairs came out to observe the tower before they would approve our VA loan. Again, I was told it was safe; I found out later that the VA office did not check for electrical fields, only for ground wires and if the house was in the "fall zone" of the tower. My youngest son has had health issues since birth (however they are minor compared to diseases such as cancer). I have always wondered if the electromagnetic fields from the tower could be a factor in my son's health ailments.
My situation made me think about some of our schools being located near power lines, as well as, students' homes. Should we be concerned about the possible health effects from these lines? We go about our everyday lives and sometimes do not stop to look at what is near us, why it is there and what it could do to us. Power lines are not the only source of EMFs. Everyday appliances and wiring in homes also emit electromagnetic waves. Since humans are spending the majority of their day inside near electrical appliances and gadgets, I thought it would be interesting to look at how these fields may affect our health. We use electrical devices all the time, but do we really know all there is to know about them?
Comments: