Lagos and its pylons
*Because of its metropolitan and industrial nature, Lagos has a total electricity distribution, and cables, that span 6,872kilometres, transmitting varying voltage ranges.
*Closer proximity to an electromagnetic source does not necessarily give the highest reading, probably because the induced current in the body is localised.
*The statutory stipulated setback from electricity installations and facilities is 15 meters in all directions.
Health implications of living under power pylons
*Children exposed to high EMF/EMR levels have been found to be increasingly predisposed to leukaemia.
*Probable link to adult brain cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and miscarriages in pregnant women. Decade-long exposure has also been linked to declining sperm quality.
*Apart from EMF/EMR, high voltage power lines also emit corona ions, and theories suggest that these ions may be responsible for an increased risk of illnesses at distances from power lines even beyond the range of the electric and magnetic fields.
Alternative/control
*Safer modes of electricity transmission and distribution, for example, burying high-tension cables underground (though may be more expensive owing to its inefficient nature)
*Future construction of power tension lines should be situated away from densely-populated areas like the Lagos metropolis.
*A national standard on EMF exposure should be drawn from the guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), formally recognised by the World Health Organisation.
Sources: WHO/PHCN/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)/ Time.com/Environment, Health and Safety Online (ehso.com)/Microwavenews.com