"These Power Lines Make Me Ill": A Typology of Residents' Health Responses to a New High-Voltage Power Line

Abstract

"These Power Lines Make Me Ill": A Typology of Residents' Health Responses to a New High-Voltage Power Line Porsius JT, Claassen L, Woudenberg F, Smid T, Timmermans DR."These Power Lines Make Me Ill": A Typology of Residents' Health Responses to a New High-Voltage Power Line. Risk Anal. 2017 Mar 17. doi: 10.1111/risa.12786. Abstract Little attention has been devoted to the potential diversity in residents' health responses when exposed to an uncertain environmental health risk. The present study explores whether subgroups of residents respond differently to a new high-voltage power line (HVPL) being put into operation. We used a quasi-experimental prospective field study design with two pretests during the construction of a new HVPL, and two posttests after it was put into operation. Residents living nearby (0-300 m, n = 229) filled out questionnaires about their health and their perception of the environment. We applied latent class growth models to investigate heterogeneity in the belief that health complaints were caused by a power line. Classes were compared on a wide range of variables relating to negative-oriented personality traits, perceived physical and mental health, and perceptions of the environment. We identified five distinct classes of residents, of which the largest (49%) could be described as emotionally stable and healthy with weak responses to the introduction of a new power line. A considerable minority (9%) responded more strongly to the new line being activated. Residents in this class had heard more about the health effects of power lines beforehand, were more aware of the activation of the new line, and reported a decrease in perceived health afterwards. Based on our findings we can conclude that there is a considerable heterogeneity in health responses to a new HVPL. Health risk perceptions appear to play an important role in this typology, which has implications for risk management. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Using latent class growth models, the study identified five distinct classes of residents differing in trajectories of believing health complaints were caused by the power line. The largest class (49%) showed weak responses and was described as emotionally stable and healthy; a minority class (9%) responded more strongly, had heard more about health effects beforehand, was more aware of activation, and reported decreased perceived health after activation.

Outcomes measured

• Belief that health complaints were caused by a power line
• Perceived physical health
• Perceived mental health
• Perceptions of the environment
• Awareness of activation of the new line
• Prior hearing about health effects of power lines

Limitations

• Quasi-experimental field study (nonrandomized)
• Outcomes based on self-reported questionnaires
• Exposure characterized by distance to the line (0–300 m) without reported field measurements in abstract

Suggested hubs

• power-lines-elf (0.95)
  Study concerns residents living near a new high-voltage power line and health responses.

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