Health Effects Study and Safe Distance Determination Near an Electrical Distribution Network

Living organisms are affected by environmental pollution, one main source of which is the electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) of electrical distribution lines that produce high-voltage currents. Nowadays, electrical power transmission lines and distribution systems are becoming increasingly prevalent, with power distribution lines passing through cities and being located very close to buildings. For this reason, there has been significant public concern, which has escalated because of reports about the adverse health effects of the EMFs of power distribution systems. In this paper, the environmental pollution produced by several different configurations of electrical distribution systems in Iran is studied. The paper presents new software to calculate EMFs around electric power lines. Using this software and based on maximum allowable EMFs, a safe margin around selected power lines has been determined. According to the study results, it seems that in Iran this safe distance is not met. Therefore, the standards relating to power distribution lines should be reviewed.