On power lines

There is a considerable controversy over the nature of the health threat to exposure to the strong magnetic fields around high voltage power lines.

Atlantic Monthly, a prestigious American magazine, presented a thorough article on this subject in its November, 1994 issue. The author interviewed many scientist and engineer who are conducting research into the question. While some believe there is a potential problem, most of these experts believe that such fields are harmless.

Britain's National Radiological Protection Board and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (sponsored by the U.S. Office of Science and Technology) have both conducted extensive reviews of the scientific literature on Electro-Magnetic Force and conclude that it is long on alarm and short on good science.

Thus, the letter in your Dec. 17, 1994 issue from Mr. Norman Schmidt displays more ignorance of the subject than enlightenment. Mr. Schmidt refers to a study done in Florida in which teachers at a school near power lines wore "radiation monitors" and detected "excessive radiation". If Mr. Schmidt is truly an electrical engineer, then he knows the difference between electro-magnetic fields, like those which surround power lines, and nuclear radiation. He must also know that the two are totally unrelated and therefore the results of that "study" are at best highly questionable.

There might indeed be a danger, but the global scientific community does not know for sure. PLN doesn't know and Mr. Norman Schmidt certainly doesn't know.

The public needs to be informed about such issues. What they don't need is alarmists giving false or incomplete information. It would be interesting for The Jakarta Post staff to do some research, using the Atlantic Monthly article as a starting point, and present a follow-up report to its readers.

GARY GENTRY

Jakarta