Electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, are a type of radiation that is generated by electrical currents. They are everywhere in our modern world, and they come from many sources including power lines, electrical appliances, and even the sun.
One source of EMFs that has garnered a lot of attention in recent years is substations. Substations are facilities that transform high-voltage electricity from power plants into lower-voltage electricity that can be distributed to homes and businesses.
While substations are essential to our modern way of life, there is some concern about the potential health risks associated with exposure to EMFs. In this blog post, we’ll explore what EMFs are, how they are generated, and whether or not they pose a risk to human health.
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What are EMFs?
EMFs are a type of radiation that is generated by electrical currents. They are everywhere in our modern world, and they come from many sources including power lines, electrical appliances, and even the sun. EMFs can be classified into two main categories: ionizing and non-ionizing.
Ionizing radiation, such as x-rays and gamma rays, has enough energy to ionize atoms and molecules, meaning it can knock electrons out of their orbits and cause damage to DNA. Non-ionizing radiation, on the other hand, does not have enough energy to ionize atoms and molecules. Examples of non-ionizing radiation include radio waves, microwaves, and visible light.
EMFs from power lines and substations fall into the non-ionizing category. These EMFs have much lower energy than ionizing radiation, and there is no evidence to suggest that they can cause direct damage to DNA. However, some studies have suggested that long-term exposure to high levels of EMFs may be associated with certain health risks.
How are EMFs generated at substations?
Substations are facilities that transform high-voltage electricity from power plants into lower-voltage electricity that can be distributed to homes and businesses. EMFs are generated at substations when high-voltage electricity passes through power lines and transformers.
The strength of the EMFs generated at substations depends on a number of factors, including the voltage of the electricity, the amount of current flowing through the lines, and the distance from the source of the EMFs. Generally speaking, the closer you are to a source of EMFs, the higher the levels of EMFs you will be exposed to.
Do substations pose a health risk?
There is some concern about the potential health risks associated with exposure to EMFs from substations. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified EMFs as a possible carcinogen, meaning that there is some evidence to suggest that they may be associated with an increased risk of cancer.
However, the evidence on the health effects of EMFs is mixed, and there is still a lot that is not fully understood. Some studies have suggested that long-term exposure to high levels of EMFs may be associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer, such as childhood leukemia and brain tumors. Other studies have found no evidence of a link between EMFs and cancer.
It’s worth noting that the levels of EMFs that people are typically exposed to from substations are much lower than the levels that have been associated with health risks in some studies. In general, the levels of EMFs from substations are well within the safety limits set by regulatory bodies such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) but can exceed guidelines set out by bodies such as SAGE and IGNIR.
That being said, some people may be more sensitive to EMFs than others, and there is still a lot that is not fully understood about the long-term effects of exposure to low-level EMFs. As a result, some people may choose to have a survey carried out to understand the exact amount of radiation present.
Contact us here for a free quote on EMF tests.