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Updated 12.20pm
A NEW REPORT into electro magnetic fields (EMF) associated with electricity pylons has failed to find a conclusive link that it exposes people to health risks.
The European Commission report conducted by the scientific committee said that human exposure to EMF comes from many different sources and occurs in various everyday situations. Man-made static fields are mainly found in occupational settings, though the report states that “high-voltage overhead transmission lines are being constructed which will expose larger parts of the population to static electric and magnetic fields”.
Power lines
The report states that more research is needed into the health effects from Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) fields (the main sources of these fields pertaining to the general public are household appliances and power lines):
“…Epidemiological studies are consistent with earlier findings of an increased risk of childhood leukemia with long-term average exposure to magnetic fields above 0.3 to 0.4 µT. However, as stated in the previous opinions, no mechanisms have been identified that could explain these findings”.
The report goes on to say that “the lack of experimental support and shortcomings identified for the epidemiological studies prevent “a causal interpretation”.
Electromagnetic fields
“Studies investigating possible effects of magnetic fields (MF) exposure on the power spectra of the waking EEG, behavioural outcomes and cortical excitability are too heterogeneous to enable drawing any conclusion,” said the report, adding, that while most studies investigating the effects of EMF exposure on symptoms have not found any effects, two experimental studies have identified individual participants who “may reliably react to exposure”.
However, they state that replication of these findings “is essential before weight is given to these results”.
The report stated that “in recent years attention has been directed towards people living next to power transformers installed inside residential buildings. It appears that long-term exposure to ELF magnetic field of these people can exceed several tenths of μT.
Recent results do not show an effect of ELF MF exposure on reproductive function in humans.
The report cites a Danish study which they said showed “no association between residential exposure to power lines and risk of Alzheimer or Parkinson disease”.
Residential history, constructed for the past 20 years, “showed no indication of increased risks were found for ever having lived less than 50 metres from a high-voltage power line, nor for duration of such residency”.
The report stated:
Only in a sub-group analysis of Alzheimer disease in the age group 65-74 years… The results did not confirm the findings of the Swiss cohort study reporting increased risks of Alzheimer disease for living 15 years within 50 metres of a power line.
The European Commission and the Scientific Committee on Emerging Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) have launched a public consultation into the matter and are now seeking feedback from the scientific community and stakeholders on the risk assessment related to the potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.
All interested parties are invited to submit written comments on the preliminary opinion by 16 April 2014.
Ahead of the publication of this report, the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said on Newstalk, that the Minister Pat Rabbitte intends to press ahead with the expert review panel into the use of pylons, but said “of course” the European Commission report will weigh in on the consultation.
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Piece of shit coward. Sits in his car, shoots from his car, does a legger in his car and when he was low on fuel he pulls into a petrol station.
Happens every day in parts of America, and you don’t hear of it because the majority of them are black
Supernova – are you saying black people commit the most shootings or reports aren’t newsworthy because it’s a picture we’ve seen thousands of times?
Most of the victims are black actually but does the race matter? A crime is a crime is a crime.
This is being portrayed as a mad man shooting but it seems like more of a gangland style deal.
Drivebys happen a lot in the US. There were 733 in 2014 alone with 154 deaths.
Yeah but I’m saying if the individual was black I don’t think it would have been a big a news story I’m afraid. If a white man gets killed all hell breaks loose.
Hang on, are you saying when a black man gets killed all hell *doesn’t* break loose?
Have you been watching the news coming out of the states for the last year or so?
I dunno how this has gone international? what about all the drive bys that happen in Compton?
If it was in America this happened you would have quadruple the comments on this story.
…and blaming the NRA.
You’d have quadruple the comments if it was the US because it happens every other week in the US, often happens to kids, and it’s once in a blue moon in other countries. The last one in Germany was 2010, we’ve had a dozen HUGE ones in the US since then.
Perfectly fair game to blame the NRA since they are the second most powerful lobby group in the US, and oppose even moderate gun regulations like preventing civilians from owning military grade weapons, and preventing people from the terrorist watch list or the mentally ill buying guns. You’ll notice we, who have one of the top 5 most conservative gun regs in the world, have never had a mass shooting, and the UK has not had one since the 70s when it adopted very similar rules.
Saadi news but why is it being reported here? We have shootings all the time between rival gangs, does that make news in Germany or is there something more to this?
hopefully it was Enda and Angela
Idiot of the highest order!
Tis an ill wind that blows through Bad Windsheim this morning.
when will the killing end. we need to get rid of guns altogether.
No, don’t be ridiculous. Then Billy the Kid and the ‘Hole in the Ground Gang’, not to mention the most evil German of all time, Kaiser Wilhelm II, will have a free reign.
his getaway car low on fuel. not very Mr Brooks was he.
So so sad. This senseless violence needs to stop.
Kaiser Wilhelm II was quite a decent guy. Just a bit egotistical I suppose. Britain vilified him in the Great War for propaganda purposes, that’s all.
@Ashley Brown. He also must have thought of other’s welfare as well,, for he brought in the first European pension and welfare programs,albeit at the behest of Chancellor Otto Von Bismark, without which we might still be fighting for them even now.
—”Social programs in Germany began in the 1880s.
“In November 1881, at the direction of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm I, issued a decree stating, “those who are disabled from work by age and invalidity have a well-grounded claim to care from the state.”
have your say