A NEW report has left a North Yorkshire widower once again wondering: were power lines responsible for my wife and son's deaths from cancer?
Peter Smith - who has also suffered from the illness - lives just across the A19 from high voltage cables running through the Vale of York north of Thirsk.
He has suspected for years that his own illness, his son Matthew's death at 18 from liver cancer and his wife's death from bone cancer might be linked in some way to the electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by the power lines.
Now his suspicions have been rekindled by an official report from the radiation watchdog, the National Radiological Protection Board, which called for the Government to investigate an apparent link between EMF and increased risk of childhood leukaemia and also called for a reduction in radiation exposure safety limits.
Peter and his daughter Jannette - the only member of the family not to suffer from cancer - say the report has led them once again to wonder if their family tragedy might be connected to the EMF from the cables, which are less than 40 yards from their home.
The National Grid's scientific adviser, Dr John Swanson, said there was no statistical evidence of any increased risk of adult cancers for people living near power lines, and where cancer cases arose it was purely coincidental. He stressed that there was only a possible link even with childhood leukaemia.
He said the National Grid supported calls by the NRPB for a full and proper debate on the whole issue.
l Do you live near power lines and have health concerns? Call the newsdesk on 01904 567131, or emailA NEW report has left a North Yorkshire widower once again wondering: were power lines responsible for my wife and son's deaths from cancer?
Peter Smith - who has also suffered from the illness - lives just across the A19 from high voltage cables running through the Vale of York north of Thirsk.
He has suspected for years that his own illness, his son Matthew's death at 18 from liver cancer and his wife's death from bone cancer might be linked in some way to the electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by the power lines.
Now his suspicions have been rekindled by an official report from the radiation watchdog, the National Radiological Protection Board, which called for the Government to investigate an apparent link between EMF and increased risk of childhood leukaemia and also called for a reduction in radiation exposure safety limits.
Peter and his daughter Jannette - the only member of the family not to suffer from cancer - say the report has led them once again to wonder if their family tragedy might be connected to the EMF from the cables, which are less than 40 yards from their home.
The National Grid's scientific adviser, Dr John Swanson, said there was no statistical evidence of any increased risk of adult cancers for people living near power lines, and where cancer cases arose it was purely coincidental. He stressed that there was only a possible link even with childhood leukaemia.
He said the National Grid supported calls by the NRPB for a full and proper debate on the whole issue.
l Do you live near power lines and have health concerns? Call the newsdesk on 01904 567131, or email newsdesk@ycp.co.uk
Updated: 09:33 Saturday, April 03, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article