Received an email from UK from a consulting engineer, KC Tang, raising questions about the safety of the high tension electrical tower in Rawang, which had been in the news lately over the protest by the affected residents.
The email reads:
I came across this article in Sinchew online and thought the comments by Tang See Hang saying Tenaga quoted that the high powered line only affects people ‘directly’ under the cables but not outside are so misleading.
I am a consulting engineer (originally from Malaysia) working in London (www.idac.co.uk) and I do a lot of engineering simulations. I did a project for National Grid here a while back to investigate the current induced in a human body near some transmission lines and the electromagnetic fields is more widespread than the direct line between the cable and the ground. There is clear guidance over here for the safe, allowable induced current in the body of occupational workers and public (yes there are certainly some induced current when you are exposed to the electromagnetic fields) and the 10 feet he quoted as not having any adverse effects is VERY, VERY alarming and wrong. Are there any guidelines in Malaysia for this sort of installation?
Scientists have mixed reaction to this issue but there is a report showing evidence that electromagnetic fields may be linked to cancer hence the existence of straight guidelines in developed countries. There are a lot of information you can obtain from this website http://www.emfs.info/issue_NRPBlimits.asp.
The Rawang high-tension electricity tower controversy had drawn further protests, including school children, as reported in Malaysiakini yesterday:
Tower…ing protest in Rawang draws 500
Bede Hong
Aug 23, 07 7:24pmAbout 500 people, comprising some 100 school children and 400 adults, protested the construction of a high tension electrical tower in Rawang New Village today, fearful that its power transmission lines would be detrimental to their health.
The tower, adjacent to SJK(C) Sun Yuk, is part of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)’s upgrade plans that were mooted following major blackouts in the Klang Valley in 2005. The new power lines will carry 240KV from its current 33KV.
Villagers gathered at the school compound today as piling construction began. The school children, who were attending holiday tutoring, participated after class.
“Protest! Protest! Protest!” chanted the children, waving their arms as the adults stood by. They carried placards that read “Chinese ministers: Pay attention to the grievances of villagers and students” and “Education Ministry: Please be concerned with the health of teachers and students.”
Half a dozen enforcement officers monitored from the construction site.
The tower was first proposed in 2005. A TNB relocation compensation plan for 51 families was rejected this year.
Residents voiced concern over the electro magnetic field (EMF) generated by the power lines.
“We are afraid of the ill-effects of having power cables right over the heads of villagers. We want the tower to be relocated to somewhere more isolated,” SJK(C) Sun Yuk board of directors chairperson Lee Foo Wang told a press conference at the school.
“This is merely a question of whether money or lives are more important,” he said.
Further talks possible
Lee added that the school faces a potential “exodus” of students and teachers.
“We cannot support anything that would harm the children. We don’t want to risk that,” said the school’s Parents Teachers Association president Lim Siew Wah.
Meanwhile, Selayang assemblyperson and state ex-co Tang See Hang said the proposal to relocate the tower was rejected by TNB but did not rule out further negotiations.
Villagers have filed a court injunction which will be heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court next Tuesday. Tang proposed the village’s action committee meet up with Minister of Energy, Water and Telecommunication Dr Lim Keng Yaik to further negotiate.
“I’m a responsible state assemblyperson. I have tried my best, but TNB has rejected the proposal. TNB is also angry at me for delaying the project for two years. Don’t blame MCA for not helping. It is not fair to me,” he told a press conference at the Gombak district office today.
He said he was told by TNB that relocating the power lines would cost an additional RM100 million.
On Monday, four villagers were arrested following a scuffle with TNB workers at the construction site. Over 150 villagers were involved in that protest.
Although no medical study has proven a conclusive link, many health experts believe that long term exposure to EMFs causes nausea, headaches and in some, even leukemia.