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What are the effects of electrical and magnetic fields on man?

No Effects Found

Jean Cabanes · 1979

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1979 WHO review found no health dangers from power lines up to 800 kV, but modern EMF science has advanced significantly since then.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1979 World Health Organization review examined studies on the health effects of electrical and magnetic fields from power lines on humans. The WHO found no statistically significant health effects and concluded that high-voltage power lines up to 400-800 kV do not pose a danger to human health. Any symptoms reported in some subjects fell within normal physiological ranges or were attributed to non-specific stimulation.

Why This Matters

This WHO review represents an important historical marker in EMF health research, coming at a time when power line concerns were first emerging. While the WHO's conclusion of 'no danger' from 400-800 kV lines may seem reassuring, it's worth noting this assessment was based on the limited research available in the late 1970s. The science has evolved considerably since then, with hundreds of studies now documenting biological effects from EMF exposure at levels once considered safe. What's particularly telling is the WHO's acknowledgment that some subjects did experience symptoms, even if they dismissed them as 'non-specific stimulation.' Today, we understand that biological responses to EMF don't always manifest as obvious disease symptoms but can include subtle cellular changes that accumulate over time. The reality is that power line EMF exposure levels in your home are typically much lower than what these early studies examined, but the research landscape has grown far more nuanced in the decades since this review.

Cite This Study
Jean Cabanes (1979). What are the effects of electrical and magnetic fields on man?.
Show BibTeX
@article{what_are_the_effects_of_electrical_and_magnetic_fields_on_man__g5131,
  author = {Jean Cabanes},
  title = {What are the effects of electrical and magnetic fields on man?},
  year = {1979},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

The WHO concluded that high-voltage power lines up to 400 kV posed no danger to humans, with available information suggesting the same for lines up to 800 kV. This assessment was based on studies available through the late 1970s.
No statistically significant health effects were found. Some subjects reported symptoms, but WHO experts determined these fell within normal physiological ranges or resulted from 'non-specific stimulation' rather than actual EMF-related health impacts.
Despite finding no immediate dangers, WHO experts favored continuing investigation into power line health effects. This suggests they recognized the need for more comprehensive long-term studies to fully understand potential EMF impacts on human health.
The 1979 WHO review was based on relatively few years of research from various countries. The limited timeframe and early stage of EMF research meant long-term health effects and subtle biological changes weren't adequately studied.
Modern EMF research is far more sophisticated than 1979 studies, with hundreds of peer-reviewed papers now documenting biological effects. Today's research examines cellular-level changes and long-term exposure effects that weren't detectable with 1970s methodology.