Would you let your 5-year-old start school here?

[Lila00]

Would you let your 5-year-old start school here?

In the middle of a small schoolyard stands a large, green, enclosed high voltage transformer station (about the size of a large chest freezer). Children play right next to it and sometimes touch it. The classroom is just three steps away from the box.

I am concerned about electromagnetic fields because research has shown a probable increased risk of childhood leukemia with prolonged exposure. The children will be spending 9 years at the school.

I understand that electromagnetic fields (EMF) decrease with distance, but the problem is precisely that there are not several meters of distance to the classroom, and children sometimes stay very close to it in the schoolyard

In this country, the government has stated that new constructions and schools should avoid being built near such high voltage installations in the future.

This is not the same type of radiation as from mobile phones and Wi-Fi.

pircture

What is it transforming to what? The serious ones are usually in quite large fenced enclosures with warning signs about not entering. A picture is needed, it sounds like a very minor installation. Ask the school or the electricity company what it is for and for actual measurements of electro magnetic radiation from it. Are there any notices on it or numbers that you could look up.

You're clearly concerned. If something was concerning me I wouldn't send my child. Hope this helps.

Sounds like the opening of a Marvel film

Link to a picture I found: greenpowerdenmark.dk/nyheder/fibernet-styrbare-netstationer-skaber-mere-robust-elnet

High voltage? Are you sure? I suspect it’s not. Are other parents concerned? Are there cables from pylons going in it? If you don’t like it, find another school.

I would find out what it is before making decisions on a child's education. There is a large green box on the green near us and when it's open it is a mass of cables inside, but looks more like a giant fuse box than anything more sinister. This one may just be providing specific power to the school or be a distribution box to the local neighbourhood.

How do you know what's in the box? Have you spoken to school about it? Ultimately if it worries you that much, find a different school.

That's fibre optics not electricity.

high voltage transformer station that the children can touch, about 6 foot from a classroom? I really, really, really don't think so! It sounds more like the internet / phone line connection box. Your best bet is to ask the school what it is before you make a decision.

The yellow lightning sign is a warning of high voltage. But it is enclosed in the box to limit EMF emissions. I have limited knowledge in this area, so I’d like to hear if anyone else knows more

Have you actually asked the school what the box is because it doesn't sound like it is what you think it is.

A transformer station converts this high voltage into a lower voltage

What does the school say? What does OFSTED say? What do other parents say?

I don’t think this is what you think it is. Have you asked the school? They wouldn’t have something that dangerous where children actively play with no security/fence.

That's incorrect - it's a electricity grid substation, but it can be controlled by comms via fibre optics (as opposed to having to be switched manually).

Usually substations have a wide range of voltages up to 132 kV for distribution and sub-transmission, and higher if it's transmitting to a larger network (up to 400kV). The one the OP has shown is right at the lower scale of that (according to the voltage in the pic).

On the basis that it's a much lower voltage than usual, and the fact that it's modern equipment I would say that the box protecting it is probably pretty effective at protecting humans from EMF. I don't believe there have any conclusive studies on whether sustained EMF has an effect or not so it's hard to make a decision, but in this case I'd say the risk is very low for reasons mentioned.

I work in a facility with high levels of EMR and i've never been worried, cancer risk is not on any of our risk assessments and i worked here through 2 textbook pregnancies.

High energy EMR can be linked to cancer but that is things like x-rays.

I really doubt a school would be allowed to remain open if there was something of such high risk in the playground.

*editied to change EMF to EMR

A high voltage unit that is not fenced off that children can touch? Seems unlikely.

If the kids can touch it, it's not going to be that dangerous...