Is It Harmful to Our Health to Live Too Close to Power Lines?

Power lines? You have to be more specific. What danger is involved has to do with the load they carry. Generally there are very strict zoning laws so you cannot build to close to high tension wires.

Well after some Googling, it would appear you must be more than 400 ft from transmission lines but I wouldn't recommend using the area directly under them as a play area.

We'd never do it but that's just us. I've heard that there can be health issues related to this but I don't know how common it is.

I do not know any proven facts about it. My daughter's high school was beside a large power center and when you got out of the car, you could hear the buzzing. Also if it was raining, you could hear them zapping when the rain hit them.

There was some news about some children who lived on the power line route being sick but who knows if it is true or a coincendence. The news media loves to fire people up and instill fear.

Damaging to our health,,, I don't know but think about it..... It is harmful to drive a car, ride a bike, walk across a street, etc but who knows the actual extent.

I would not purchase a home with the lines in sight only because I wouldn't want to look at them daily and even have the remote question in the back of my head if they were dangerous or not. I wouldn't take that chance but my reasoning is solely for asthetics, not health. Around here, they will damage your property value just as a water tank, etc in sight of the home that obstructs a clear view.

Good luck with your decision.

Ever watch that movie Tommy Boy? He lived next to power lines! well anyway NO I dont think so but they do agree that being directly under or near them for extended time is not good for health. Those lines do give off some energy so its not probably the best for health. I'd say your far enough away. Though think about the weather in your area. If you are prone to high winds, frequent storms in summer. Do you want them coming down near ya?

My husband grew up on a farm directly under power lines. He lived there his whole childhood and he is healthy as a horse. Honestly, we all live in some proximity to power lines LOL!

Where I live *everybody* lives close to power lines. They are everywhere! When you look out of many houses you can actually see the high tension power line towers.

There is no evidence to support the theory that power lines are harmful. But, like the T.F. said, it hurts your property value because people think there might be a concern and they are ugly.

Tons of studies have shown a higher incidence of cancer, leukemia, and other health issues in neighborhoods near high tension power lines. The National Institute of Health even profiled the problem. There doesn't seem to be a link between illness and regular power lines (like the kind that connect one or two houses), but high tension and load bearing ones - yes, it *could* cause problems. It just raises the risks, not guarantees a problem.

There was a sub we really liked with power lines in the sub. We liked the sub we ended up going into better, but we did consider the other. The realtor said there's higher risk of cancer with those when you live near them. She's been doing her job a long time and is pretty frank with her opinions on things.

I used to not believe how much the American diet and toxins in the environment can be harmful and, after some more life experience, now I do. My advice? If you're worried enough to ask this question, don't buy it. This is a buyers market and you can find something else. If you really think it might not be that bad, then get an expert opinion. It's worth it. GL.

Concrete: I would be mostly worried about the resale value

I know when we were looking, and there was a relay station in view/nearby... we just kept driving to the next address on the list.

Well, I don't know if it had anything to do with it but a childhood friend lived probably 500 feet or so from some big power lines and both of her parents died within a few years of each other at fairly young ages. (50s) they lived there 20 years or so.....I wouldn't do it but to each his own.

Well, you have to get power to your house somehow! Actually, we have underground power cables to our house. Don't know how common that is, but it is nice to know that we are less likely to lose power during a storm.

I have to agree with TF, lots of things in life are dangerous. Just don't go near them if they're ever down. You really can't live your life in fear.

I would never live that close to a power line. Never. From what I understand, it may make you at a higher risk for cancer. I don't have time to look it up right now though. I wouldn't risk it, especially if I have children, might get pregnant, have grandchildren, or pretty much have to be there much. And, they really are not attractive.

it has not been proven but it has not been disproven either. Plus there is the stigma of it. So in the future it might be very difficult for you to sell your house. Plus let me tell you how important it is to consider the future. My parents bought a home in Chino Hills, CA 22 years ago today actually. At that time going through their neighborhood was a set of 88 foot towers that had capability to carry about 220kvH of power however they were dormant for 20 years. My parent's home they felt was far enough away to be ok. Last year southern California Edison removed the towers. SWEEET. Well not so. This year 200 foot towers were put in their place. They are expected to carry 500kvH of electricity. They will have an audiable humming noise 24 hours a day. The emissions will reach much farther. Some homes are less than 30 feet from the tower's base with arms of the towers extending over their property lines. The city of chino hills has spent over $4 million fighting SCE. They have made progress but the fight is not over. Homes literally fell out of escrow when the towers went up. There are several lawsuits pending from buyers who were not made aware of the towers and power lines as they were not up when they closed on their home. Homes already difficult to sell in a difficult market are not even being looked at becasue of their proximity to the power lines. Also FHA will not approve loans in this region because of the lines. They have been built in a known active fault zone and in an area with high force winds. there are so many things that were not supposed to happen with this project that have. For more information please visit hopeforthehills.org , but for me personally and the nightmare my parents are dealing with I would not do it. best of luck to you and your family.

I have heard that you should live at least a quarter mile away from major power lines to be on the safe side.

family member who works for power company INSISTS it is not unhealthy. but even w/that i wouldn't be comfortable doing it.
though, really i'm only about 4 blks away.

I've always wondered that, but I'm not sure it is true. We lived less than a 1/4 mile from a large substation. When we road our bikes down the road, you could hear the buzz and feel the tinglies on your arms (when we went under several of the lines coming into the substation).

My mother passed away of lung cancer, but she also smoked daily and had a very stressful life. Everyone else in the family 5 other members and the long time residents of the area do not have any serious illness that I know of. My brother and his family live on the property now.

I'd do a little more research than just asking us mamas before you make your final decision. But, if you are reconsidering it, others may too in the future if you decide to sell.

Good luck!