High voltage overhead. [Review of environmental impacts]
- Univ. of Rochester, NY
Neither animal and plant experimentation nor clinical studies nor 25 years experience with operating EHV transmission lines have to-date provided convincing evidence for a harmful effect of exposure to electric and magnetic fields associated with transmission lines, in spite of numerous attempts to find such effects. Likewise, on a biophysical basis one would have no reason to expect there to be effects. The overwhelming body of scientific evidence indicates that electric and magnetic fields associated with high-voltage transmission lines have no deleterious biological effects. Current plans for future higher-voltage transmission lines appear to limit maximum ground-level electric fields to approximately the 10 kV/m level. Above about 10-12 kV/m the possibility of ''annoyance'' shocks becomes greater. Also, above 15 kV/m some people may find the skin sensation annoying. Therefore, while there does not appear to be any serious risk from the direct biological effects of electric or magnetic fields generated by future transmission lines operating at higher voltages, if future designs call for gradients much in excess of 10 kV/m it is suggested that a serious risk-benefit assessment should be undertaken. Subjects specifically discussed are environmental impacts, biophysical considerations, biological investigations, fish and birds, electric shock, Soviet standards, and cardiac pacemakers. (MCW)
- OSTI ID:
- 7059818
- Journal Information:
- Environment; (United States), Vol. 20:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of the effects of electric fields on implanted cardiac pacemakers. Final report
Field Measurements and Calculations of Electrostatic Effects of Overhead Transmission Lines.
Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
EHV AC SYSTEMS
HEALTH HAZARDS
OVERHEAD POWER TRANSMISSION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
CARDIAC PACEMAKERS
FISHES
LEGAL ASPECTS
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
POWER TRANSMISSION
PUBLIC HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
STANDARDS
USSR
AC SYSTEMS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
EUROPE
HAZARDS
POWER SYSTEMS
VERTEBRATES
296002* - Energy Planning & Policy- Electric Power Transmission & Distribution- (-1989)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety
200300 - Electric Power Engineering- Power Transmission & Distribution- (-1989)