potentialrisksofemfexposure.docVIP

Potential Risks of EMF Exposure by Jeff, Robb, Tom Abstract In 1999, two neighborhoods were dealing with one issue: what to do with power lines. The difference lay in affluence of the neighborhoods: one in Green Valley versus North Las Vegas. The Nevada Power Company decided to hold public hearings in both neighborhoods to discuss alternatives. In North Las Vegas, the Nevada Power Company decided to reroute the power lines to the least populated streets. In Green Valley, local corporations shouldered the cost of burying the power lines. One question this scenario provokes is why the citizens of these two neighborhoods were concerned about EMFs and ELFs in the first place, despite scientists stating there is “no clear and convincing evidence” linking them to health effects. The answer is complex and involves more than just the fear of harm. This paper will try to answer questions like this. To do this, we will first discuss the nature of EMFs and the potential population at risk. Second, we will attempt to summarize the vast amount of research and evaluate the limitations of various approaches of project design. Third, we will discuss the nature of the continued. Fourth, we will discuss a proposed method to evaluate risk in an attempt to alleviate confusion and mistrust that has developed out of apparently conflicting results. Fifth, we will discuss possible mitigation efforts and areas of future research. Introduction In 1992, the U.S. Congress authorized the Electric and Magnetic Fields Research and Public Information Dissemination Program (EMF-RAPID Program) in the Energy Policy Act. (NIEHS, 1999) This act directed the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to investigate the potential health risks from exposure to extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF-EML). This program focused on three parts: health effects research, public dissemination of informatio