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Thursday, May 24, 2007
It is not only the poor racing pigeon that is endangered by overhead power
lines.
Farmers, construction workers, children flying kites, wild birds such as
swans, and many more have fallen victim to these deadly monstrosities.
The danger of electrocution is obvious, but there are also obscure dangers
associated with overhead power lines.
A recent report drawn up for
the Department of Health by 'stakeholders' including scientists and
electricity company bosses, urges ministers to consider banning the building
of homes and schools close to overhead high voltage power cables to reduce
significantly exposure to electromagnetic fields from the electricity grid.
Some stakeholders support a California Department of Health paper which
suggested electromagnetic fields are 'possibly carcinogenic' in terms of
childhood leukaemia.
It also cited other health effects - adult
leukaemia, brain tumours, miscarriages and motor neurone disease.
Gas, water and telephone lines are now installed in all new-build housing
developments underground.
Technological advances over the last 20
years have seen the introduction of trenchless techniques. This has resulted
in mains and services being connected without the cost and inconvenience of
open track excavation. I would urge our newly installed Environment Minister
to set up a working group to look at the negative impact power lines have on
communities.
Pigeon racers and other interested parties should
lobby their MLAs and the Environment Minister to ensure that NIE, or whoever
runs the electricity network here in the future, does so in a way that does
not have a negative impact on our health, safety or even our hobbies.
Lobbyist, Derriaghy
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