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AIBU?

to bring up DCs close to electricity pylon and substation?

19 replies

sourpotato · 25/11/2014 22:08

Firstly, I want to say that I really do know I’m possibly BU here – I’m a relatively young mother with no family to ask for advice from, and I think partly because of this I sometimes get really horribly anxious about what often end up being small things.

Anyway, DH and I rent our house, which we live in with our 2 young boys. Not far away (takes about 10 mins to walk, but bear in mind that’s not a straight line) is a big electricity pylon. In addition to this, And right on the other side of our next door neighbours is an electricity substation. I didn’t think anything of this when we moved in (didn’t even know about the pylon) but now I’ve been reading online about possible links between EMFs and childhood cancer, and I am getting extremely anxious about it and can’t stop thinking about it.

We haven’t renewed our contract with our landlord yet and could potentially move out in January. But one of our boys goes to school nearby and the location is brilliant, and we love this house, and could not guarantee finding another to rent nearby. I don’t want to move, but I am getting so upset over these EMF studies. I can’t tell if I’m overreacting or not. I think I may have an issue with anxiety but I don’t know whether or not in this case it’s justified.

Can someone please talk some sense into me either way Sad

OP posts:
bigbluestars · 25/11/2014 22:17

I have just bought a house with a sub ststion at the bottom of the garden. I did swither, but read as much as I could and decided the risk was minimal.

You could phone your electricity company and ask them to take measurements.
Lots of people live with high energy cables running around and under their properties, especially those living in urban situations, without even knowing it, Offices, underground trains, shops, buildings next door- all could potentially have high emf fields.
It doesn't worry me.

BestZebbie · 25/11/2014 22:23

On the one hand I have an anecdata point in that the only people I know who live under a pylon do have a child with cancer - but on the other hand, they live right under it, as in, the pylon stands in their garden and the wires go directly over their roof, ten mins away down the road such that you weren't even aware of it at first doesn't seem like the same sort of thing at all.

skylark2 · 25/11/2014 22:29

"Not far away (takes about 10 mins to walk, but bear in mind that’s not a straight line) is a big electricity pylon."

Look at the graph here:

www.emfs.info/sources/overhead/

That graph goes out to 100m. You're probably ten times that far away - and the field's basically zero at 100m.

Sallyingforth · 25/11/2014 22:32

If you browse the web you will find theories about all sorts of health dangers. EMF from electricity cables is just one. Others will tell you that mobile phones or WiFi will kill you. If you avoided them all you would never find anywhere safe to live.
There is no proof that the EMF will harm you or your children, although people have been living under high tension cables for a hundred years.
You and your children will be safe. But if you are not going to be reassured, you should move anyway because the constant worry will cause you more harm than the electric field.

bigbluestars · 25/11/2014 22:41

sally- I agree, you can find views to support any theory on the internet. OP do as much research as you can, but do check your sources. I decided in the end the risk was very low and I rarely give it a moment's thought. You have to make a decision you can live with.

EustaciaBenson · 25/11/2014 23:07

I grew up a lot closer to pylons than that and neither my sister or I or any of the children in the village got childhood cancer, I now live next to a substation and dont worry about it if I'm honest

northernlurker · 25/11/2014 23:11

I wouldn't want to live right under a pylon or next to a sub station - and you don't. You're at a reasonable distance from both. ATM I would prioritise your family's happiness in the house.

sourpotato · 25/11/2014 23:15

Thank you for these responses - they have made me feel so much better already! The power lines run in the opposite direction to our house so definitely not overhead, and the pylon itself is about 600m away according to google maps so seems pretty safe if that graph is anything to go by.
I haven't seen as much info wrt substations so it's good to know you looked into it and decided to go ahead anyway bigbluestars. And I think I probably will ring up the electricity company to see if they'd consider taking measurements.
Still not sure what I'm going to do in terms of renewing the tenancy but I'm not an anxious wreck now at least!!

OP posts:
skylark2 · 26/11/2014 07:25

One thing to bear in mind is that generating huge fields takes a lot of energy. It's not like, say, pollution, where it's cheaper for a company not to bother to be safe so someone unprincipled might lie about what they're doing or not doing to save money - it's much cheaper for them to minimise the fields.

Carrierpenguin · 26/11/2014 07:29

The pylon sounds far enough away. I wouldn't want to be that close to a substation though, sorry!

BathshebaDarkstone · 26/11/2014 07:37

From what PP have said, I think the risk is minimal. YANBU. Smile

londonrach · 26/11/2014 07:43

I wouldnt but thats just me. I also wouldnt view houses next to substations sorry. If you happy there stay, if not move.

bigbluestars · 26/11/2014 07:47

Substations are difficult to avoid, in housing estates they are often 200-300 metres apart. Many schools have their own substations , often adjacent to classrooms or playground.
Many workplaces and large supermarkets have their own subsations too- including hospitals and commmercial premises.

I too think the risk is negligible, but don't imaging you can avoid them completely. You or your children may be spending a large part of your day right next to one without knowing.

londonrach · 26/11/2014 07:48

Might be out of date as 2008. Remember this website is very anti living near substations. Only posting to give you another view. Please dont be frightened by the website as its a very strong one sided view. www.powerwatch.org.uk/elf/substations.asp. As said before if happy living there stay. X

Shockers · 26/11/2014 07:48

I have discounted lovely houses because of their proximity to pylons and substations, but that's because of my own worries.

If you're worrying about it enough to be researching the risks, maybe it is time to look for somewhere else. If your worries are small, think about the benefits of staying and weigh things up.

bigbluestars · 26/11/2014 07:56

london that link you post by POwerwatch also make a large amount of money selling "anti- radiation paint" and have come under a lot of criticism for very unscientific and knee jerk reporting

Shockers= "If you're worrying about it enough to be researching the risks, maybe it is time to look for somewhere else.I disagree, I was concerned and took several months to research the subject. I read widely, checking all my sources and came to the conclusion thta the risks were tiny. I bought the house with a substation 10 m from my property. I have been happy with me decision since then and barely give it any thought.

sashh · 26/11/2014 08:11

Your kids are probably exposed to more if they touch an old fashioned TV screen,

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 26/11/2014 08:54

The exposure stood next to a residential substation is about the same as standing next to your fridge.

There are EMFs present in any property with an electricity supply. The presense of the pylon and substation as described will not increase you and your DCs EMF exposure.

If everything else is good, I would stay in this house. Smile

Sallyingforth · 26/11/2014 10:38

About pylons.
Their only function is to hold up the cables. They might not look particularly attractive but they are entirely passive structures and securely earthed. So there is actually less field strength around the pylons than further along the cable run.

About Powerwatch. A bunch of loonies looking for vulnerable people.

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