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Living Near Power Lines

May 29th, 2007 at 07:44 am

I've found my dream home!!...sort of. The problem is the house is right behind some Power lines/tower. I've read a lot of research about living near power lines and most say there is no corrolation between living next to them and cancer or that they are non-conclusive. Could a few people please give me some feedback about living next to these things or if you have friends or relatives that live next to them. For example: How long have you lived near them, do you have small children, did any of your family members who lived in that home develop any illness' after you moved in...any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you so much.

70 Responses to “Living Near Power Lines”

  1. monkeymama Says:
    1180445817

    No help, but I did want to say I found the same. We looked at a couple of homes near power lines and I Was concerned but after researching it a little more I didn't find much. & let's face it, we ALL live by power lines, just some are above ground and some you don't see. Does it really make a difference?

    Curious to hear what others with experience around them have to say...

  2. Broken Arrow Says:
    1180461533

    Yeah, the reports seem conflicted. However, the fact that it's a potential hazard and an eye sore will still hurt your property's overall value. It's something to consider.

  3. Frayed Buckeye Card Says:
    1180478239

    What is the health results of the power company employees?Those that I know are in very good health, except for one who fell. Again I believe we are told about something to frighten us, it keeps us from worrying about real issues.

  4. robex Says:
    1180480351

    My in laws bought a house that backed onto a ravine with power lines. He ended up dying from cancer about 6 years later. No one ever said the cancer was caused from living so close to the power lines and nobody else in the family had it, so...

    We often sat in their backyard in the evenings and could hear the crackle from the lines. Once in a while a little flash would appear.

    I would never buy a house close to the lines, but I'm paranoid about certain things.

  5. Laura Says:
    1207452777

    I have lived almost under power lines since 1979. My parents live next door. No one has any problems, no one in our community has had any problems. We are living proof.

  6. Kristi Says:
    1207599435

    We have found the house we want to build, but the only thing i have a problem with is the only piece of land we can afford is right next to and under power lines. We have a 13,9,and 4 year olds. I have read and seen on tv so much negativity about power lines that i'm terrified myself. If we dont buy the land, we wont be able to build. Are you sure it will be ok?

  7. dtjunkie Says:
    1207671706

    Kristi, There are no guarantees. But we did buy the house and don't have any regrets. I've practically forgotten that they are behind the house.
    I've been here almost a year. I think Laura's post pretty much answered my general question.

    There has got to be 10s of thousands of people who has lived right by pylons or powerlines for quite some time now. It's not like we're the guinea pigs...

  8. Mandy Says:
    1211537758

    Hey guys,

    I just bought a land and building on it at the moment. It is about 25m from a powerline. This is my first home and I was soo excited about it until my friend said that there are concerns about them. I am soo stressed out now, I am scare that I will not be able to sell it in the future because of the negative opinion from the public. Can you please tell me more about your experience with living near one. How close is/was your home from one and were you able to sell them? Thanks

  9. W perkins Says:
    1214374958

    I am concern I have seen one movie, which was a Disney comedy about kids going to school and playing near power lines. I am 53yrs old and my finance wants this house I will leave it up to God. I am going to die from something, but my concern is the property value this maybe an retirement investment for our future does anyone know that during the real estate boom were houses next to power lines selling at high profit margins also?
    The health issue is also a concern how does it affect men vs. woman, over 50 vs. over 65 theses are some of questions that I have looking for your input.

  10. njohn Says:
    1215995318

    I finally found out my dream home, my dream home faces another house directly in front of it which has power lines in its back yard, which is visible from my front porch, is it going to be a health hazard?, and what about resale?


    any suggestions?

  11. Jessica Says:
    1216997207

    I live in a house that is under powerlines, and am currently researching the affects of EMFs on people and their health. We had our utility company come out and take EMF readings. They ranged from 11mG - 26 mG. Everything I see says that "average" readings are 2-3 mG. This has to mean something. Our utility company says there are "associations" between health issues and powerlines, but no direct cause and effect link. I disagree with dtjunkie's comments regarding guinea pigs... I think that since this is still "hanging out there", all involved are "guinea pigs" until a solution is found. I don't know about you all, but I don't want to be a statistic. I am looking into my options now. Had I known all that I know now, I would not have bought my house.

    Sorry to be the Debby Downer...

  12. dtjunkie Says:
    1217212466

    I really had some serious second thoughts prior to buying the house, but when I weighed the consequences of the different types of risks people live with every day anyways. The positives outweighed the negatives.

    My equity has dropped...but I don't think that has anything to do with the pylons.

  13. Jessica Says:
    1223579719

    I am a 29yo SAHM. I have two kids. A 4yo and a 2 1/2 yo. We just bought our first house a year ago. A huge power tower/pylon is butted up against our backyard fence. We moved in June 2007. Became pregnant Nov 2007 and miscarried Feb 2008. Became pregnant again in April 2008 and miscarried in July 2008. Something is up.

  14. becca Says:
    1223599100

    me and my b/f just rented a home right next to power lines u can see them from our window. i was fine about it until the last owner came over to the house to inform us that its not safe to have children in this house and thats why he sold the house. we have a 2 year old boy and now im concerned about these power lines. are they really dangerous to be living to close to them? your comments would help thanks

  15. Jessica Says:
    1223644972

    There really is no answer regarding the safety of powerlines. I know that Florida mandated that all powerlines were moved away from schools. In West VA, some powerlines were moved away from townhomes because of the concern for ill-effects that could result. From what I have learned, there is a definite association between powerlines and childhood illness (specifically leukemia)- but no cause and affect could be determined. You will hear both sides of the story if you ask around... some people swear that it is harmful, while others have lived under powerlines for years and years with no problems at all. I suggest writing letters to Congress asking for them to take steps similar to those in FL and West VA to protect people from the EMFs emmitted by these lines. Please keep updating this site if you have any luck.

  16. Ang Says:
    1235016820

    I'm in my 40's and all my life we had a power line in our back yard. None of my family ever seen any bad effects. I know people who work for the power company and been there for years and they are healthy.
    Who knows,don't stress about it, that will kill you faster then power lines.

  17. Dan Says:
    1239599585

    My wife miscarried several times and we never lived near power lines. It is interesting that some people have had health problems and happen to live near power lines, but most people that don't live near power lines still have health problems. There are also a wide range of voltages that are carried by these lines; some buzz and some are absolutely quiet. If you really want to compare to your normal surroundings buy an EMF meter and survey a house that is nowhere near power lines, and one that is. That is the only way to see if the power lines exceed typical household exposures. Even then, linemen and people that work with this type of equipment all day long do not develop a high density of cancer cases. It is good to be informed, but inform yourself with facts like obtaining your own measurements, and not a lot of conjecture.

  18. Eric Says:
    1245888322

    We found our dream home. until.... I realized that power line thing... still hesitating whether to take it or not. My biggest concern is its effect on the property value.

  19. Kim Says Says:
    1249523290

    My husband and I purchased land about two years ago. We have been living in limbo trying to decide whether to build or not. We have children and are very concerned about the health risk also. We would love to build but can't shake the fact that our gut feeling say's no!!! Any advice waiting to have a to an emf reading.

  20. Kerri Says:
    1250472531

    Hi everyone....my story is similiar to al of yours...my husband and I are both looking to purchase a piece of land (great price) and build our dream home in NH, but he is petrified as he has been educated on the fact of cancer-related leukemia in children and these high power lines abut the property. There is also a gorgeous short-sale 3-year old beautiful Colonial home for sale right next door to the power lines....but we are now so skeptical, and very confused at the same time. Any recommendations for NH?

  21. Crystal Says:
    1252545384

    Hi everyone,

    I just found my dream home and across the street is a powerline.

    I'm going for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Go where your heart leads you!

  22. Alex St Clair Says:
    1272374205

    There is only one way to be sure about radiation from power lines, and that is to measure it. Use a low-frequency EMF meter. Take the measurements at various places in your house at various times of day, with your own electric power switched off at the mains. Results can be interpreted in various ways, depending on which research studies you favour.

    Here are my personal suggestions: Less than 0.5 mG then don't worry about it. From 0.5 to 1.0 mG is probably safe for adults, but perhaps not totally safe for children. From 1-2 mG there is a small risk of severe health effects, especially for children. From 2-3 mG, moderate risk, don't plan to stay in the house more than a year or two. Above 3 mG, the risk is high - sell if you can.

    Remember, this is just the EMF from the power line. When you live in the house there will be additional sources of EMF from appliances, wiring, lighting etc. All these sources will increase your exposure. See www.emwatch.com/PowerLines.htm for more info.

  23. Laura Says:
    1276746851

    Where do you get a meter to measure the radiation? I have had enough radiation for a life time. I bought a house in the country with 2 other houses so far in the area...power lines are about 8 house plots away. I can see them from my back yard. I can't hear them unless I walk up there...we also have tennis courts and basketball courts...and a soccer field same distance to my house to the power lines. I have autoimmune problems so now I worry. I don't think this house will sell ..........now I know why. It's brand new. But, its close to power lines...damn.

  24. blair Says:
    1277254808

    i live right next to a power line. it is a beautiful house. i eat organic food, i live well. i have been very sick ever since moving here. i do not sleep well. i am depressed. i have lost a lot of hair. my neighbor feels the same. do not know if it is the power line, but we all have a lot of electricity running through us nowadays and the extra can't help. you can go to your circuit breaker and turn off power to your bedroom while you sleep. it is a small help. i feel there is no doubt that the extra electo magnetic energy is harmful.

  25. Anna Steinke Says:
    1277392502

    my boy grew up playing under a powerline since birth at 12 he was diagnosed with ALL luekemia 2008 3 1/2 yrs of brutal treatment for boys changed his whole life wouldnt wish this on anyone. powerline was a transmission line going over our backyard going down the street over the park. sleet and rain could hear it crackling had 2 misscarriages 4 months apart before i conceived with him wish i would have moved then 17 yrs ago. if you have a choice dont risk it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  26. Linda Crump Says:
    1284480604

    My son has 35 acres to build a house on but is most interested in building where his backyard is next to a power line. The other choices are at least an acre away. Would it help any to build just that far away from the lines? So much of his land is consumed by such thick woods and so far from the road that he wont consider it.

  27. Ceil Says:
    1288889437

    We purchased a home in 2004 that is very close to a huge power lines in our back yard. At the time we didn't give the power lines a thought because the home was beautiful and priced right for the economy. Since then ,I have become very sick. I have devoloped Hyertyroidism,grade 3 heart murmur, severe allergies, blindness,tetached retna"s that I had lost my sight for 3 months,and so much more. We have a beautiful deck in the back of our home which since 2005, I have sat out to get a tan every yesr since we moved haer. Every year i devope severe hair lose come august every year. went to a doctor and she recommened rogaine to have it grow back.Me now relalised it could be the power lines! Next week I go for extensive tests to see the cause. Wish me luck!

  28. Patricia Says:
    1290472075

    Hello all:

    Can someone please help me, we just found a 25 Acre Land. There are High Voltage Wires 735 Kv passing over the land. It is at the end of the land. Our House would be built approximately 500 Ft. from the Wires..... Is this dangerous? Please help..... I am so confused.....

  29. Stan Says:
    1294500340

    My wife and six kids live almost directly under huge power lines that supply the city of phoenix. We wear hats constructed from aluminum foil to block the emf. Building the hats are fun and good for family bonding time.

  30. joe Says:
    1307084227

    Is this guy Stan trying to be funny... That cant be for real.
    The oblongs cartoon comes to mind.

  31. Susan Says:
    1309721904

    When money and health collide...choose health. When in doubt, don't do. Confidence will bring peace of mind. Less stress will bring greater health. Greater health will bring greater capacity to earn.

  32. MrsS Says:
    1310894515

    I have bought an emf reader, we live approx 300m from some 400v pylons and the reading indoors is below 1.0 unless I stand next to the cooker while it is on or the wifi which goes so high it can't read it. But as you move away it drops dramatically, just if you move 2 steps away.

    I drove under the power line where there are also some gardens and it went up to as high as 10.0 which I dont think is recommended. Safe distance is apparently 100m but I will be as far as possible in my next move. The reader is a good idea but buy a triple axis rather than a single axis.

    Power companies seem to be able to put them anywhere as the governments say there is no evidence and the attitude of the companies is quite arrogant. I bet the top people there make sure there are no power lines anywhere near their mansions!

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