# Invisible Danger of Electromagnetic Fields **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-danger-of-electromagnetic-fields/209614 "2003-10-26T03:57:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![shaneomac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@shaneomac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shaneomac)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-danger-of-electromagnetic-fields/209614/21 "2003-10-26T22:26:20Z")
As for powerlines reducing how long people live. I am just speculating here but I have a hunch that this contributes more to the observed effect than any actual radiation damage that may or may not occur, you’re already read what I think about that. Assumption one, high voltage powerlines are not very attractive, and people would rather not live near them. Thus people with money will choose to live elsewhere and you will find a higher proportion of low income individuals anb families in the vacinity of said power lines. I think it’s pretty widely accepted that a persons socioeconomic status contributes greatly to their quality of health. If all of the above statements are true then the conclusion this would lead you to is that there is a correlation to living near power lines and adverse health effects. ---
**Author:** ![billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-danger-of-electromagnetic-fields/209614/22 "2003-10-27T02:25:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*You got a cite for that? \*\* I was ganna say NO and ask you to take my word for it because I use to work for a test lab that did the testing, although I didn’t work in that division. But I ended up doing a search and what do you know??? HOWSTUFFWORKS came through for me. > **[How Cell-phone Radiation Works](https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone-radiation3.htm)** > > Cell-phone radiation has been debated for years now. Find out what the buzz is about and how to protect yourself when choosing and using a cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-danger-of-electromagnetic-fields/209614/23 "2003-10-27T02:32:53Z")
Excellent, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-danger-of-electromagnetic-fields/209614/24 "2003-10-27T02:48:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shaneomac \* > \*\*As for powerlines reducing how long people live. … you will find a higher proportion of low income individuals and families in the vicinity of said power lines… I think it’s pretty widely accepted that a persons socioeconomic status contributes greatly to their quality of health. \*\* That’s very similar to the conclusion that Dr. Park came to in [another one of his columns:](http://www.aps.org/WN/WN96/wn110196.html) > [@](#): > > **The Academy study found “no conclusive and consistent evidence that exposures to residential electric and magnetic fields produce cancer, adverse neurobehavioral effects, or reproductive and developmental effects.” > … > There must be other factors that produce a tiny excess of childhood leukemia near power lines. At a press conference yesterday, a reporter asked whether the panel recommended “prudent avoidance.” The chair, Charles Stevens, a neurobiologist, replied that “we wouldn’t know what to suggest people avoid.” Since the proximity to power lines is greatest in congested, low-income areas, it would be best to avoid poverty.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-danger-of-electromagnetic-fields/209614.md?page=1)