Shields on Electric Posts Prevent Primate Deaths: A Case Study at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.

When monkeys, such as the toque macaques (Macaca sinica) of Sri Lanka, seek food on the ground near human habitation, they may use electrical posts to escape aggression from conspecifics, dogs, or humans. Shields mounted on electrical posts prevented monkeys from reaching the electrical wires, thereby averting their electrocution: the frequency of electrocutions (n = 0) was significantly less (p < 0.001) in the 12 years after installation of the shields than in the 12 years before (n = 18). Electric shocks were either fatal (n = 14) or caused permanent injury (n = 4) (collectively referred to as electrocutions hereafter). The shields may find broader applications in other primate species and environments wherever monkeys are attracted by human food near electrical posts. Primates and other arboreal mammals also accessed live wires from trees; at known electrocution hotspots, short spans of exposed wires were insulated by encapsulating them in PVC water pipes. It was impossible, however, to prevent electrocutions from all electric supply infrastructures that put monkeys at risk. A wider use of insulated electric conductors in planning power distribution in habitats frequented by wild animals would be desirable in preventing electric shocks to wildlife.

Fracture status of wild cranes (Grus monacha and G. vipio) found dead or in a weak condition at Izumi Plain in Japan.

The Izumi Plain in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, is a major wintering ground for wild cranes. Between October 2009 and March 2016, a total of 204 Hooded Cranes Grus monacha and White-naped Cranes G. vipio were found dead or in a weak condition in the plane. Of these, 56 cranes had bone fractures. The rate of incidence of fracture was considered to be higher in White-naped than in Hooded Cranes. Tibia fractures were the most common. The leg and wing fracture numbers were almost equal. Forty six percent of the fracture cases were believed to be caused by collisions with the power line.

The effects of electric power lines on the breeding ecology of greater sage-grouse.

Anthropogenic infrastructure can negatively affect wildlife through direct mortality and/or displacement behaviors. Some tetranoids (grouse spp.) species are particularly vulnerable to tall anthropogenic structures because they evolved in ecosystems void of vertical structures. In western North America, electric power transmission and distribution lines (power lines) occur in sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) landscapes within the range of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended using buffer zones near leks to mitigate the potential impacts of power lines on sage-grouse. However, recommended buffer distances are inconsistent across state and federal agencies because data are lacking. To address this, we evaluated the effects of power lines on sage-grouse breeding ecology within Utah, portions of southeastern Idaho, and southwestern Wyoming from 1998-2013. Overall, power lines negatively affected lek trends up to a distance of 2.7 and 2.8 km, respectively. Power lines died not affect lek persistence. Female sage-grouse avoided transmission lines during the nesting and brooding seasons at distances up to 1.1 and 0.8 km, respectively. Nest and brood success were negatively affected by transmission lines up to distances of 2.6 and 1.1 km, respectively. Distribution lines did not appear to affect sage-grouse habitat selection or reproductive fitness. Our analyses demonstrated the value of sagebrush cover in mitigating potential power line impacts. Managers can minimize the effects of new transmission power lines by placing them in existing anthropogenic corridors and/or incorporating buffers at least 2.8 km from active leks. Given the uncertainty we observed in our analyses regarding sage-grouse response to distribution lines coupled with their role in providing electric power service directly to individual consumers, we recommend that buffers for these power lines be considered on a case-by-case basis. Micrositing to avoid important habitats and habitat reclamation may reduce the potential impacts of new power line construction.

Characteristics and potential human health hazards of charged aerosols generated by high-voltage power lines.

We investigated the characteristics of charged aerosols produced by high-voltage power lines (HVPLs) to explore the effects on respiratory disease incidence among those who handle HVPLs. Charged aerosol currents and charged aerosol concentrations were measured over 24 h at 12 sites. Aerosol current effective levels were 2.7 times higher compared to exposed and control sites. This pattern of relative enhancement at exposed sites was seen consistently in all measurements and the difference was 1.7 higher at exposed sites. Correlation analysis among all important variables revealed strong positive correlations between currents and concentration, currents and magnetic field, humidity and concentration, and humidity and particles of 10 µm or less (PM10), while negative correlations were observed between charged aerosol concentrations and wind velocity and between wind velocity and humidity. Estimated production of charged aerosols from HVPLs found that people who work with HVPLs are highly likely to be exposed to charged aerosols.

Preterm birth among women living within 600 meters of high voltage overhead Power Lines: a case-control study.

AIM: The issue of preterm birth due to exposure to magnetic fields from power lines is unclear. Exposure to electromagnetic field in uterus has been hypothesized as possible preterm birth. The aim of the present study was to determine whether living closer to high voltage power lines increased the risk of preterm labor. METHODS: In a nested case-control study, 135 cases of singleton live spontaneous preterm birth in Rohani hospital, Babol, Iran, during the period between 2013 and 2014 were studied. The 150 control subjects were singleton term live birth in the same year of birth and city of residence using randomized-digit dialing. The shortest distance to any of the high voltage power lines to the maternal residence during pregnancy was measured using ArcGIS software for every case and control. To test the association between the preterm births and the residential proximity to power lines, stepwise multiple logistic regression was used. RESULTS: There were 28 households, 20 cases (14.8%) and 8 controls (5.3%) situated within 600 meters of high voltage power lines. The adjusted OR for spontaneous preterm birth and birth defect in women who were living in less than 600 meters from high voltage power lines was higher compared to those living at farther distance (OR = 3.28, CI: 1.37 to 7.85) and (OR = 5.05, CI: 1.52 to 16.78), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, installing overhead power lines and stations within 600 meters or making overhead underground would be useful in the prevention of both preterm birth and birth defect.

Modeling Magnetic Fields from a DC Power Cable Buried Beneath San Francisco Bay Based on Empirical Measurements.

The Trans Bay Cable (TBC) is a ±200-kilovolt (kV), 400 MW 85-km long High Voltage Direct Current (DC) buried transmission line linking Pittsburg, CA with San Francisco, CA (SF) beneath the San Francisco Estuary. The TBC runs parallel to the migratory route of various marine species, including green sturgeon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead trout. In July and August 2014, an extensive series of magnetic field measurements were taken using a pair of submerged Geometrics magnetometers towed behind a survey vessel in four locations in the San Francisco estuary along profiles that cross the cable's path; these included the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (BB), the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (RSR), the Benicia-Martinez Bridge (Ben) and an area in San Pablo Bay (SP) in which a bridge is not present. In this paper, we apply basic formulas that ideally describe the magnetic field from a DC cable summed vectorially with the background geomagnetic field (in the absence of other sources that would perturb the ambient field) to derive characteristics of the cable that are otherwise not immediately observable. Magnetic field profiles from measurements taken along 170 survey lines were inspected visually for evidence of a distinct pattern representing the presence of the cable. Many profiles were dominated by field distortions unrelated to the cable caused by bridge structures or other submerged objects, and the cable's contribution to the field was not detectable. BB, with 40 of the survey lines, did not yield usable data for these reasons. The unrelated anomalies could be up to 100 times greater than those from the cable. In total, discernible magnetic field profiles measured from 76 survey lines were regressed against the equations, representing eight days of measurement. The modeled field anomalies due to the cable (the difference between the maximum and minimum field along the survey line at the cable crossing) were virtually identical to the measured values. The modeling yielded a pooled cable depth below the bay floor of 2.06 m (±1.46 std dev), and estimated the angle to the horizontal of the imaginary line connecting the cross-sectional center of the cable's two conductors (0.1143 m apart) as 178.9° ±61.9° (std dev) for Ben, 78.6°±37.0° (std dev) for RSR, and 139.9°±27.4° (std dev) for SP. The mean of the eight daily average currents derived from the regressions was 986 ±185 amperes (A) (std dev), as compared to 722 ±95 A (std dev) provided by Trans Bay Cable LLC. Overall, the regressions based on fundamental principles (Biot Savart law) and the vectorial summation of cable and geomagnetic fields provide estimates of cable characteristics consistent with plausible expectations.

Epidemiologic study of residential proximity to transmission lines and childhood cancer in California: description of design, epidemiologic methods and study population.

We conducted a large epidemiologic case-control study in California to examine the association between childhood cancer risk and distance from the home address at birth to the nearest high-voltage overhead transmission line as a replication of the study of Draper et al. in the United Kingdom. We present a detailed description of the study design, methods of case ascertainment, control selection, exposure assessment and data analysis plan. A total of 5788 childhood leukemia cases and 3308 childhood central nervous system cancer cases (included for comparison) and matched controls were available for analysis. Birth and diagnosis addresses of cases and birth addresses of controls were geocoded. Distance from the home to nearby overhead transmission lines was ascertained on the basis of the electric power companies' geographic information system (GIS) databases, additional Google Earth aerial evaluation and site visits to selected residences. We evaluated distances to power lines up to 2000 m and included consideration of lower voltages (60-69 kV). Distance measures based on GIS and Google Earth evaluation showed close agreement (Pearson correlation >0.99). Our three-tiered approach to exposure assessment allowed us to achieve high specificity, which is crucial for studies of rare diseases with low exposure prevalence.

Distance to high-voltage power lines and risk of childhood leukemia--an analysis of confounding by and interaction with other potential risk factors.

We investigated whether there is an interaction between distance from residence at birth to nearest power line and domestic radon and traffic-related air pollution, respectively, in relation to childhood leukemia risk. Further, we investigated whether adjusting for potential confounders alters the association between distance to nearest power line and childhood leukemia. We included 1024 cases aged <15, diagnosed with leukemia during 1968-1991, from the Danish Cancer Registry and 2048 controls randomly selected from the Danish childhood population and individually matched by gender and year of birth. We used geographical information systems to determine the distance between residence at birth and the nearest 132-400 kV overhead power line. Concentrations of domestic radon and traffic-related air pollution (NOx at the front door) were estimated using validated models. We found a statistically significant interaction between distance to nearest power line and domestic radon regarding risk of childhood leukemia (p = 0.01) when using the median radon level as cut-off point but not when using the 75th percentile (p = 0.90). We found no evidence of an interaction between distance to nearest power line and traffic-related air pollution (p = 0.73). We found almost no change in the estimated association between distance to power line and risk of childhood leukemia when adjusting for socioeconomic status of the municipality, urbanization, maternal age, birth order, domestic radon and traffic-related air pollution. The statistically significant interaction between distance to nearest power line and domestic radon was based on few exposed cases and controls and sensitive to the choice of exposure categorization and might, therefore, be due to chance.

Electrical injury in construction workers: a special focus on injury with electrical power.

BACKGROUND: Electrical injury in construction workers due to contact with overhead power lines accounts for an important cause of admission at the emergency department. Due to lack of specific treatment options for this type of injury, prevention remains the mainstay of management. AIMS: Our study aimed to demonstrate the characteristics of electrical injury in construction workers among one of the largest Iranian population at a burn care hospital. METHODS: Through a retrospective review of hospital data base, patients with electrical injuries admitted to Motahari hospital in Tehran, Iran between March 2011 and June 2012 were included for analysis. Patients were divided into construction workers and other patients. Primary characteristics and final outcomes were then compared between the 2 study groups. RESULTS: Of 202 patients included in this study, 105 patients (52%) were construction workers and 97 patients (48%) constituted the remainder. There was significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of mean age, gender, and average burn size. In contrast, mean duration of hospitalization and mortality rate did not differ significantly between the 2 study groups (p>0.05). Contacts with over head power-lines accounted for the most common mechanism of injury. There was significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of place of injury and electrical current power. However, total cost of treatment did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (p>0.05). Frequency of severe complications was higher in construction workers and this group underwent more invasive procedures such as limb amputation and fasciotomy. CONCLUSION: The most common mechanism of electrical injuries in construction workers is due to contact with over head high voltage power-lines at workplace. This type of electrical injury is associated with higher use of fasciotomy, flap and limb amputation.

[French general practitioners and electromagnetic fields]. / Les médecins généralistes français face aux champs électromagnétiques.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perception of risk of general practitioners (GPs) about electromagnetic fields (EMF), their sources of information, as well as their patients' level of concern. METHODS: Six hundred French GPs were selected according to the quotas method. They were asked to answer 24 items via an electronic questionnaire using the Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) method. RESULTS: The GPs know the main EMF sources: cell phone towers, cell phones, power-lines, microwave ovens and WiFi networks. Patients mostly complain or worry about the first three sources and ask their GP for information about these. GPs themselves search for information in the mainstream media rather than in the usual scientific and medical press. As a consequence, their knowledge about potential risks of EMF is deemed rather crude. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The GPs are sensitive to environmental concerns, particularly regarding EMF exposure. However, according to the results analysis, they do not have the same approach because of an obvious lack of mastery in a complex and poorly informed situation. A serious educational effort is essential and would be welcomed by practitioners, who are aware of their responsibilities in terms of counseling, diagnosis and care.

Potential of gallium-based leads for cardiac rhythm management devices.

We propose the use of gallium (Ga), a metal that is liquid at physiological temperatures, or one of its alloys, for use as the conducting material in the leads of implantable pacemakers or cardioverter defibrillators. It is proposed that a liquid conductor will make these leads more pliable and thus less susceptible to fracture in situ. As an initial step towards utilizing liquid gallium in leads, the biocompatibility of Ga was investigated via cytotoxicity, hemocompatibility, and intracutaneous injection testing. Unipolar pacing Ga prototypes were fabricated by adapting existing pacemaker leads. The electrical impedance and pulse transmission ability of these leads were examined. Ga was well tolerated both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the Ga prototypes conductors behaved as low magnitude resistances that did not distort pulses as generated by conventional pacemakers. These results indicate that Ga is an appropriate material for implantable cardiac stimulators and will be a focus of our liquid metal prototypes.

Environmental justice: a contrary finding for the case of high-voltage electric power transmission lines.

Environmental justice is the consideration of whether minority and/or lower-income residents in a geographic area are likely to have disproportionately higher exposures to environmental toxins than those living elsewhere. Such situations have been identified for a variety of factors, such as air pollution, hazardous waste, water quality, noise, residential crowding, and housing quality. This study investigates the application of this concept to high-voltage electric power transmission lines (HVTL), which some perceive as a health risk because of the magnetic fields they generate, and also as esthetically unpleasing. We mapped all 345 kV and higher voltage HVTL in New York State and extracted and summarized proximate US Census sociodemographic and housing characteristic data into four categories on the basis of distances from HVTL. Contrary to our expectation, people living within 2000 ft from HVTL were more likely to be exposed to magnetic fields, white, of higher income, more educated and home owners, than those living farther away, particularly in urban areas. Possible explanations for these patterns include the desire for the open space created by the rights-of-way, the preference for new homes/subdivisions that are often located near HVTL, and moving closer to HVTL before EMFs were considered a risk. This study suggests that environmental justice may not apply to all environmental risk factors and that one must be cautious in generalizing. In addition, it shows the utility of geographical information system methodology for summarizing information from extremely large populations, often a challenge in epidemiology.

Health impact assessment of an urban regeneration project: opportunities and challenges in the context of a southern European city.

BACKGROUND: Social values and the political context have an influence on the use and spread of health impact assessment (HIA). In Spain, there is little experience in HIA but some regional governments are already introducing it. The aim of this article is to describe the health impacts of a local regeneration project to improve accessibility in a neighbourhood of Bilbao (Spain), and discuss the main difficulties, opportunities and challenges of the process, considering the specificities of the social and political context. METHODS: A concurrent and prospective assessment, based on a broad model of health, was carried out following the Merseyside guidelines. A literature review, community profiling and qualitative data collection were undertaken. Profound involvement of members of the community and key informants was judged as essential in the HIA process. RESULTS: The overall expected effect of the new lifts, roads, park and the rainwater collection system was positive. Uncertain or negative impacts were identified in some of those areas, and also concerning the burying of four high-voltage power lines. Historical and current characteristics of the community were highly influential on the way local people perceived the project and its impacts. Likewise, the way in which processes of planning and implementation were developing also played an important role. CONCLUSION: The spread of HIA in southern European countries will depend on the progressive introduction of values underlying HIA, as well as on the promotion of intersectoral work, a better knowledge of the social model of health and community's participation in policy making.

[Practical aspects of taking measurements of electromagnetic fields in the surrounding of overhead transmission lines]. / Praktyczne aspekty wykonywania pomiarów pól elektromagnetycznych w otoczeniu napowietrznych linii elektroenergetycznych.

Identification of electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of high voltage overhead transmission lines requires taking measurements and determining, on their basis, the maximum values of electric (Emax) and magnetic (Hmax) field strength, as well as the width of the area with electric field strength exceeding 1 kV/m. Measurements should be carried out in the places, where the distance between phase wires and the ground is smallest, and their results converted to conditions expected at the most disadvantageous parameters of the work of line in terms of their effect on the environment. This requires taking into consideration the maximum voltage of the transmission line, as well as the highest acceptable temperature of wires. In a single-circuit line, convertion of the measured values to expected maximum values of Emax and Hmax is not difficult, although it requires knowledge of cross-profiles in spans, in which measurements were taken. However, recounting the values of magnetic field strength produced by two-circuit lines creates a serious problem. Since in the majority of cases, the measurements in the surrounding of two-circuit lines are carried out at asymmetrical currents in both circuits, converting their results to symmetrical currents of the lines is practically impossible. Therefore, the results of the measurements of magnetic field strength carried out at the asymmetrical current of a two-circuit line cannot provide the basis for assessing the possibility of exceeding the allowable value of magnetic field intensity determined in the binding regulations. Such an assessment can only be done on the basis of the results of relevant calculations.

Bilateral sternobronchial fistula after coronary surgery--are the retained epicardial pacing wires responsible? A case report.

BACKGROUND: Temporary epicardial pacing wires are routinely used during cardiac surgery; they are dependable in controlling postoperative arrhythmias and are associated with low morbitity. CASE REPORT: We report a case of sternobronchial fistula formation induced by the existence of retained epicardial pacing wires in a patient who underwent coronary surgery ten years ago. CONCLUSION: Reported complications of retained epicardial pacing wires are unusual. We present this case in order to include it to the potential complications of the epicardial pacing wires.