Electromagnetic Radiation From Power Cables
TODAY
December 08, 1999
A RECENT news story in TODAY by Reuters News Service referred
to a statement by a British power industry spokesman concerning
electronic radiation emanating from power cables. The press release came
at a time when new evidence was being announced at a press conference in
london, and published by The Lancet showing that there is a
serious connection.
What was not reported was the new scientific breakthrough by an
important research group at the University of Bristol in England. This
has found new evidence that although the electromagnetic radiation in
itself may not have a direct effect on the human cells, it increases the
updraw of radioactive radon gases from the earth and intensifies air
borne pollution such as that created by heavy traffic.
This new scientific evidence on electronic radiation has just been
published in the International Journal of Radiation Biology and
released at a press conference held at the Institute of Mechanical
Engineers in London on December 1.
The discovery by a British scientist, Professor Denis Henshaw, a
distinguished researcher at Bristol University's Human Radiation Effects
group in England, confirms a theory worked out three years ago that
electromagnetic radiation is directly linked to leukemia and other
cancers in children.
Professor Henshaw and his team have proved after years of painstaking
research and over 2,000 field tests to back it up, that the radiation
from power cables extends for more than 100 yards on each side of the
cables and that they increase the human uptake of radioactive gas
(radon) given off by the earth and the gases in traffic pollution. These
gases damaged the blood cells of humans, and children are the most
vulnerable.
The research was funded by the Department of Health and the Medical
Research Council of the United Kingdom. The findings are supported by
another parallel study by Professor Richard Doll to be published in
The Lancet this Friday. Professor Doll was the first to establish
the link between tobacco and cancer when the industry had denied such a
link.
Now he has established a link between radiation and leukemia. He
collated details of every childhood leukemia case in the past four years
to find common links to radiation. Clusters of childhood leukemia have
been associated to electromagnetic radiation for years, but the direct
evidence making the connection was lacking. Now it has been found.
Professor Henshaw's research group discovered the complex interaction
between the alternating electric fields surrounding occurring
radioactive radon gas. Children near cables could receive a powerful
dose of 95 millieverts of radiation in a year. The maximum allowed for
any home is only one millisevert.
Nuclear workers are allowed a maximum dose of 50 and this is to be
reduced to 20.
Professor Henshaw said, "It is clear that if there is radon gas or
traffic fumes in the air near pylons, then people living nearby will
suffer increased exposure because of the electric fields."
FR. SHAY CULLEN, Mssc.,
Preda Children's Home,
Human Development Center,
Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City
