Subject: Pacific Gas & Electric brochure about EMF (Maxey)..
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 102537 -0600 (CST)
From: "Roy L. Beavers"
To: emfguru
--------------------------------------------------
......."Given the uncertainty of the issue, the medical and scientific
communities have been unable to determine that **usual** residential
exposures to EMF cause health effects....." [.....Italics by guru....]
This cop-out, of course, avoids the all important reality: where the
studies HAVE consistently found adverse effects -- i.e., children living
near power lines....!!!! That is certainly NOT the **usual** residential
exposure.....
Why did the California Commission allow such an obvious cop-out???!!
Cheerio..... (Thanks Ed -- glad to have the below document for our
archives..... It ought to do some good in some future court cases....)
Roy Beavers (EMFguru)
roy@emfguru.com
.....It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.....
NEW!!! Website... http://emfguru.com
...................People are more important than profits.................
DO YOU KNOW OF OTHERS WHO SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST???
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2000 09:36:42 -0600
From: Edward Maxey
To: "Roy L. Beavers"
Subject: PG&E flyer
Hi Roy,
The PG&E flyer came yesterday. The scanned material via a computer OCR
is below. Perhaps it will interest some folks on your list.
Felicitations,
ED
______________________________________________
Understanding
EMF
ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS
Questions have been raised about the possible heath
effects of 60-Hertz (power frequency) electric and
magnetic fields (EMF), which are found wherever you
have electric power. This brochure contains information
that will help you understand the EMF issue, plus
practical tips you can use if you want to reduce your
exposure at home and at work.
Campos Elbcbkos y Magneticos (EMF):
Si desea recibir informaci6n en espanol. comuniquese con
Pacific Gas and Electric Company al 1-800-660-6789.
Reviewed by:
California Public Utilities Commission
Caifornia Department of Heath Services
Pacific Gas and
Electric CompanyCan EMF Harm Your Health?
(page 2 follows)
Can EMF Harm Your Health?
________________________
ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS ARE PRESENT wherever electricity
Fows--around appliances and power lines, and in offices, schools
and homes. Many researchers believe that if there is a risk of adverse
health effects from usual residential exposures to EMF, it is probably
just at the detection limit of human health studies; nonetheless, the
possible risk warrants further investigation. The varying results from
epidemiological studies linking estimated EMF exposures with childhood
leukemia and one kind of leukemia in adult workers are consistent with
a weak effect. Laboratory experiments have shown that EMF can cause
changes in living cells. It is not clear whether these changes suggest
any risk to human health.
The results from many research studies will be reported by both national
and California EMF research programs to determine if EMF poses any
health risk. **Given the uncertainty of the issue, the medical and
scientific communities have been unable to determine that usual
residential exposures to EMF cause health effects or to establish any
standard or level of exposure that is known to be either safe or
harmful.** [......guru provided italics....]
What Is Being Done
about EMF in California?
_________________________
IN 1993, A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION DECISION
(D.93-11-013) created an EMF research and information program. This
program is managed by the California Department of Health Services
(CDHS) and funded by utility ratepayers. The purpose of the program is
to perform research and policy analysis, and provide education and
technical help to benefit Californians. Input to the CDHS is provided by
a Stakeholders Advisory Consultant Group (SAG) with representatives of the
public, consumer groups, health and scientific experts, and labor and
utility representatives. More input can come from state agencies,
consultants and special interest groups during the open-forum discussion
periods at the SAC meetings. These meetings are open to the public. CDHS
will make a final report on its findings at the conclusion of the EMF
program. You can get information about the California EMF Program by
calling CDHS at (501) 622-4S00 or from their Web site:
http//www.dnai.com/-emf
(page 3 follows)
What Is the EMF RAPID Program?
_______________________________
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO CONDUCTED EMF research as
part ofa $45-million research program, managed by the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This program, known as the
EMF RAPID (Research and Public Information Dissemination) Program,
submitted a final report to the U.S. Congress on lune 15, 1991. The
report concludes that:
## "The scientific evidence suggesting that EMF exposures pose any
health risk is weak."
## "EMF exposures cannot be recognized as entirely safe because of weak
scientific evidence that exposures may pose a leukemia hazard."
## The power industry should continue its current practice of siting
power lines to reduce exposures and continue emphasis on educating both
the public and providers of electricity about ways to reduce exposure.
[.......Can anyone identify any "current practice" examples of: (1) the
power industry siting power lines to reduce exposure; or (2) an emphasis
on educating the public about EMF????.....guru.....]
Copies of the report can be found on the EMF RAPID home page,
http:l/www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid or by mail: EMF-RAPID Program,
NIEHS, PO. Box 12233, Mail Drop EC-16, Research Triangle Park,
NC 27709.
Magnetic Fields at Home
(Mearurements are in milligauss.)
1.2" away 12" away 39" away
!!!! Microwave 750 to 2.000 40 to 80 3 to 8
Oven
!!!! Clothes 8 to 400 2 to 30 O.1 to 2
Washer
!!!! Electric 60 to 2.000 4 to 40 O.1 to 1
Range
!!!! Fluorescent 400 to 4.000 5 to 20 0.1 to 3
Lamp
!!!! Hair 60 to 20,000 1 to 70 0.1 to 3
Dryer
!!!! Televisian 25 to 500 0.4 to 20 0.1 to 2
Source Adapled from Gauger (1985)
Magnetic Fields Outside
Maximum values may be lower for some California utilities.)
!!!! Distribution Lines:
1 to 80 milligauss under the line
!!!! Transmission Lines:
1 to 300 milligauss edge of right-of-way
(page 4 follows)
What You Can Do
_____________________________________________
THE CPUC'S 1993 DECISION (D.93-11-013) addressed possible
EMF heath effects from electric utility facilities. In a situation of
scientific uncertainty and public concern, the CPUC felt it appropriate For
utilities to take no-cost and low-cost measures where feasible to reduce EMF
exposure from new or upgraded utility facilities. You, too, may want to
take no-cost and low-cost measures to reduce your EMF exposure at home and
at work.
Human studies have not produced a consensus about any heath benefits
from changing the way people use electrical appliances. But, if you feel
reducing your EMF exposure would be beneficial, you can increase your
distance from electric appliances and/or limit the amount of time you
use appliances at home or at work.
For instance, you can place phone answering machines and electric clocks
away from the head of your bed. Increasing your distance from these and
other appliances such as televisions, computer monitors and microwave
ovens can reduce your EMF exposure.
You can also reduce your EMF exposure by limiting the time you spend
using personal appliances such as hair dryers, electric razors, heating
pads and electric blankets. You may also want to limit the time you spend
using electric cooking appliances.
You can locate the sources of EMF in your work environment and spend
break time in lower-field areas.
It is not known whether such actions will have any impact on your heath.
For More Information
Call Pacific Gas and Electric Company for a free information Package or
home/business measurement at 1-800-743-5000.
Call the California Department of Heath Services at
(510) 622-4500 or visit http://www.dnai.com/~emf/
Visit the U.S. EMF RAPID Program Web page:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid
Visit the CPUC EMF Policy Web page: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/
division/energy/environmental/emf/emfopen.htm
October 1999
Archive provided courtesy of WaveGuide, http://www.wave-guide.org
Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.emfguru.com