Electrical Effects of Transmission Lines
While electromagnets can be used to create electricity, the flow of electricity also creates an electromagnetic field around transmission lines. The United States hasabout 300,000 miles of high voltage transmission lines and 5.2 million miles of local power transmission cables.
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Electromagnetic Interference
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The electromagnetic interference or EMI created by power transmission lines can interfere with radio waves. This can result in interference with AM radio signals, FM radio signals, and cell phone signals. An EMI detector can be used to monitor and locate sources of electromagnetic interference. Direct current transmission lines produce less interference than alternating current lines.
Health Concerns
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There has been concern about the health risks posed by effects of power transmission lines. This was heightened by cancer clusters near power lines done in 1979. However, in the book "The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience, Volume 2" by Michael Shermer, the magnetic field created by electrical transmission lines is too weak to cause cellular damage.
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Reducing Effects
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Adding extra shielding around cables reduces EMI and effects from other transmission lines. The electrical effects of transmission lines can be reduced through shielding or burying the transmission lines. Electrical effects of transmission lines can also be reduced by locating transmission lines away from densely populated areas.
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References
- "Power Trip"; Amanda Little; 2010
- "Industrial Power Systems"; Shoaib Khan; 2007
- "Electrical Power Transmission and Distribution"; M.V.Bakshi, U.A.Bakshi; 2007
- "The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience, Volume 2"; Michael Shermer; 2002
- "Encyclopedia of Energy Engineering and Technology, Volumes 2-3"; Barney Capehart; 2007
Resources
- Photo Credit power line image by Tomislav from Fotolia.com ready to play image by .shock from Fotolia.com
