Symptom reporting after the introduction of a new high-voltage power line: a prospective field study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is public concern about the potential health effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) of high-voltage power lines (HVPLs). Some residents living near HVPLs believe ELF-EMF might cause non-specific health complaints. OBJECTIVES: The present study is the first to prospectively investigate whether self-reported health complaints and causal beliefs increase after the construction of a new power line. METHODS: We used a quasi-experimental design with two pretests before and two posttests after a new HVPL was put into operation. Residents living near (0-300m, n=229; 300-500m, n=489) and farther away (500-2000m, n=536) participated in the study. Linear mixed models were fitted to test whether symptom reports and beliefs that power lines caused health complaints increased more in residents living close to the new line compared to residents living farther away. RESULTS: A significantly (p<.05) larger increase from baseline in symptom reports and causal beliefs was found in residents living within 300m from the new power line when compared to residents living farther away. While symptom reports did not differ at baseline, the belief that a power line could cause these symptoms was at baseline already stronger for residents living close compared to residents living farther away. CONCLUSIONS: We found a negative impact of a new HVPL on health perceptions of nearby residents, even before the line was put into operation.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Using a quasi-experimental prospective design, residents living within 300 m of the new high-voltage power line showed a significantly larger increase from baseline in symptom reports and causal beliefs compared with residents living farther away (500–2000 m). Symptom reports did not differ at baseline, but causal beliefs were already stronger at baseline among those living close to the line.

Outcomes measured

• Self-reported health complaints/symptom reports
• Causal beliefs that power lines cause health complaints

Limitations

• Quasi-experimental (non-randomized) design
• Outcomes are self-reported symptoms and beliefs (health perceptions) rather than objective health endpoints
• Baseline differences in causal beliefs between distance groups

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.15)
  Study concerns exposure near a high-voltage power line; not occupational but relates to power-line EMF exposure context.

{
    "study_type": "cohort",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "high-voltage power line",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Two pretests before and two posttests after a new HVPL was put into operation"
    },
    "population": "Residents living near and farther away from a new high-voltage power line",
    "sample_size": 1254,
    "outcomes": [
        "Self-reported health complaints/symptom reports",
        "Causal beliefs that power lines cause health complaints"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Using a quasi-experimental prospective design, residents living within 300 m of the new high-voltage power line showed a significantly larger increase from baseline in symptom reports and causal beliefs compared with residents living farther away (500–2000 m). Symptom reports did not differ at baseline, but causal beliefs were already stronger at baseline among those living close to the line.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Quasi-experimental (non-randomized) design",
        "Outcomes are self-reported symptoms and beliefs (health perceptions) rather than objective health endpoints",
        "Baseline differences in causal beliefs between distance groups"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low frequency",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "high-voltage power line",
        "symptom reporting",
        "health complaints",
        "causal beliefs",
        "prospective field study",
        "quasi-experimental",
        "distance to power line"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.1499999999999999944488848768742172978818416595458984375,
            "reason": "Study concerns exposure near a high-voltage power line; not occupational but relates to power-line EMF exposure context."
        }
    ]
}

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