Are there health risks with living near power lines or substations? Does EMF cause cancer?
Anything that uses or carries electricity will generate electric and magnetic fields, or EMF. Appliances, wiring in homes and offices, and power lines all generate EMF. The strength of EMF decreases dramatically with distance. Because EMF results from current, (measured in amps) rather than voltage, the field strengths around transmission lines and substations are comparable to exposure levels from everyday sources like computers, appliances and lighting. Comprehensive reviews of independent research on EMF exposure and health effects conducted over the past 20 years, including two large studies that looked at the body of research in its entirety, found that there is no consistent association between EMF exposure and health risks. Independent information can be found in the consumer section of the PSC Web site http://psc.wi.gov.
