On May 25, 2008, at 3:23 PM, Marcus G. Daniels wrote: > Owen Densmore wrote: >> I do believe large power lines are problematic, I certainly wouldn't >> feel safe living under one. >> > Typically there's a right-of-way the builder acquires that extends > beyond the boundaries of the widest part of the line (say 150ft). > This > is so they can come through and fix whatever is needed, trim away > brush, > etc. That puts an upper limit on the magnetic field that adjacent > homes could experience (say 50mG for a high current 230KV line) . An > air conditioner or electric blanket could produce fields in that > range. > > http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/emf.html
A delayed comment but worth noting: while I concur the EMF scare was just that, it doesn't mean living below a power line is uneventful. Years ago, a transmission engineer friend and mentor took me to a 345kV line south of Albuquerque in the Mesa del Sol area to demonstrate its power. On a hot summer day we stood under the line at a point where a barbed wire fence protruded from a sand drift. "Grab it," he said, pointing to the fence. I did but only long enough to drop it. The wire was humming with enough electricity to make the experience decidedly unpleasant. This probably wouldn't happen in winter. In summer,however, the load on the line is maxed as is the sag in the line from the heat of the load, bringing it near the closest point to the ground allowed by design standards and close enough to excite electrons in the barbed wire. -d- ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
