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         MindNet Journal - Vol. 1, No. 5a * [Part 1 of 3 parts]
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         V E R I C O M M / MindNet         "Quid veritas est?"
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    Editor: Mike Coyle

    Contributing Editors: Walter Bowart
                          Harlan Girard

    Assistant Editor: Rick Lawler

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    HISTORY OF THE BRIDLEWOOD HYDRO LINE STRUGGLE

    BY: Richard W. Woodley
        Bridlewood Residents Hydro Line Committee

    EMF Files - November 23, 1993 For more information, contact
    ab190@freenet.carleton.ca

    May/September 1984

         Ontario Hydro states at public information meetings that the
    existing corridor through Bridlewood was ruled out for the new
    500 kV lines because it was too narrow and did not meet their
    guidelines for community impact. Ontario Hydro's environmental
    assessment study stated the corridor width requirement for 500 kV
    lines to be between 100-130 metres (the Bridlewood corridor is
    80 metres wide).

    November 20, 1984

         Joint Board (Ontario Municipal Board and Ontario
    Environmental Assessment Board) hearings begin.

    November 4, 1985

         Joint Board chooses the existing Bridlewood corridor for the
    new 500 kV lines. This decision contradicts all the expert
    evidence presented at the hearings, including that of Ontario
    Hydro. Public health concerns were barely touched. The location
    of the Bridlewood school was not considered by the Board because
    it was not built yet.

    May 9, 1986

         Appeal of Joint Board decision by City of Kanata to Ontario
    Cabinet is denied.

    September 26, 1986

         Ottawa Citizen carries an article by April Lindgren on
    health effects of electromagnetic radiation. Lynn Barrett and
    Judy Hunter, along with other concerned residents, form the
    Bridlewood Residents Hydro Line Committee (BRHLC). Research into
    health effects and lobbying campaign begins.

    December 1986

         City of Kanata and Ontario Hydro fail to reach agreement on
    mitigating measures as required by previous Joint Board decision.
    On December 15, 1986 the Joint Board holds a one and a half hour
    hearing on Ontario Hydro's proposed mitigating measures. The
    BRHLC is not given notice or adequate time to prepare for the
    hearing. They are denied full standing and not allowed to call
    witnesses or cross-examine Ontario Hydro's witnesses.

    January 1987

         BRHLC engages legal counsel and announces it will seek a
    judicial review of the routing decision. On January 20, 1987 200
    Bridlewood residents protest outside the official opening of the
    new Ottawa Court House by Premier Peterson.

    March 1987

         Joint Board accepts Ontario Hydro's proposed mitigating
    measures in a March 9, 1987 decision. On March 31, 1987 the BRHLC
    appeals the Joint Board decision to the Ontario Cabinet.

    April 1987

         BRHLC survey finds that if the lines are built as planned
    34% of parents would definitely not send their children to the
    new school and another 16% would probably not.

    June 4, 1987

         Ontario Hydro starts construction  in the Bridlewood
    corridor and are met by mothers and children who physically
    prevent construction from continuing. Later that day, in the
    Legislature, the Energy Minister orders Hydro to stop
    construction until the BRHLC appeal is decided on by Cabinet.

    July 8, 1987

         The results of the New York Power Lines Project are
    released, including a study linking electromagnetic fields from
    power lines to childhood leukemia and brain cancer.

    December 1987

         On December 8, 1987 the Ontario Cabinet announces that it
    had denied the BRHLC appeal on November 26, 1987. On December 10,
    1987 Ontario Hydro begins construction and is met by protesters
    who disrupt gravel deliveries for several days. On December 20,
    1987 the Bridlewood struggle is featured on the CTV television
    program W5.

    March 1988

         On March 7, 1988 the Carleton Board of Education announces
    that it will undertake it's own study into the health risks from
    electromagnetic radiation at the Bridlewood school. A March 1988
    BRHLC survey finds that if the lines are built as planned 40% of
    parents would definitely not send their children to the new
    school and another 30% would probably not.

    May 9, 1988

         Ontario Hydro states in a letter to the community that the
    magnetic field strength at the edge of the right-of-way would be
    less than 10 milliGauss (mG) under normal everyday conditions.

    May 13, 1988

         300 residents demonstrate outside the new Bridlewood school
    while 67% of the students are kept home by their concerned
    parents.

    June 13, 1988

         Carleton Board of Education releases the findings from the
    first phase of its health study which finds that at that time
    (without the new lines in place) the school is safe.

    July, 19, 1988

         BRHLC announces it has hired Jeff Cowan of the Toronto law
    firm of Weir and Foulds (which has successfully fought Ontario
    Hydro in the past) to represent them in their legal actions.

    October 1988

         Joint Board agrees to consider a BRHLC request that it hold
    new hearings and requests written submissions on the matter.

    March 1989

         CBE issues preliminary report on the Bridlewood school.
    Magnetic field readings have increased 10 times in and around the
    school and are at levels associated with childhood cancer and
    leukemia by the New York Power Lines Project. The readings at the
    edge of the right-of-way exceed Ontario Hydro's 10 mG forecast of
    May 9, 1988.

    May  1989

         BRHLC holds DAY OF CONCERN on May 5, 1989. Over 100
    residents demonstrated outside the Bridlewood school while 40% of
    the students were absent. CBE issues another report which claims
    there is no health risk to students at the Bridlewood school.
    BRHLC spokespersons call the report "totally wrong, false
    inaccurate, untruthful and deceptive".

    May/June 1989

         The May/June 1989 issue of Intervenor, the Newsletter of the
    Canadian Environmental Law Association, published an article on
    hydro lines and health written by Richard W. Woodley of the
    BRHLC.

    October 1989

         BRHLC  application for judicial review is withdrawn. BRHLC
    continues to fight for new Joint Board hearings. Lobbying efforts
    are intensified. BRHLC continues ongoing monitoring of the
    electromagnetic field levels using its own dosimeter. On October
    27, 1989 Ontario Hydro upgrades the voltage on one of the lines
    from 230 to 500 kV.

    January 25, 1990

         BRHLC Field Measurement team releases a report, at a public
    meeting attended by over 100 residents, indicating that magnetic
    field readings at the Bridlewood school site were up to 27 times
    higher than readings at the control school in the CBE study
    (Henry Larson Elementary School). Readings in the school were as
    high as 14 mG. Ontario Hydro had stated on May 9, 1988 that the
    magnetic field strengths at the edge of the right-of-way would
    not exceed 10 mG. Readings above 2 mG have been associated with
    increased risks of childhood leukemia.

    February 20, 1990

         BRHLC representatives meet with Ontario Energy Minister Lyn
    McLeod.

    Spring 1990

         BRHLC engages in a series of meetings with Ontario Hydro.

    April 16, 1990

         CBC The Journal broadcasts a documentary on the issue of
    electromagnetic radiation, including the Bridlewood struggle.

    May 14, 1990

         CBE issues another report on the Bridlewood school magnetic
    field readings which states that Bridlewood magnetic field levels
    are among the highest of the six schools tested. It also states
    that these conditions occur at other schools, particularly
    Greenbank/Knoxdale public school in Nepean which borders a 230 kV
    and 115 kV power line. BRHLC says the report is trying to
    downplay the potential health risks from the lines. A BRHLC
    spokesperson states "They are trying  to perpetuate the myth that
    the new lines haven't had an impact on the readings at the
    school, but they have had a serious impact".

    June 20, 1990

         BRHLC plans to hold a public meeting to update the
    community. Ontario Hydro officials have been invited to attend
    the meeting to explain their position and answer residents
    questions.

    1990-1991

         The BRHLC participated in Public Focus's Visions 2020
    program by means of a background paper provided by Richard W.
    Woodley. Visions 2020 is an educational program designed to
    provide students with the tools that will be needed in their
    lifetime to understand and take part in the shift towards
    sustainable development. The program involved thousands of senior
    secondary school students from across Canada in developing their
    vision for Canada on various topic areas.

    January 1991

         BRHLC meets with senior aide to newly elected New Democratic
    Party Energy Minister Jenny Carter. Also BRHLC begins
    preparations for Environmental Assessment Board Hearings on
    Ontario Hydro's Demand/Supply Planning Study. The BRHLC has
    received intervenor status and funding to present independent
    evidence on the EMF issue before the Board.

    May 1992

         Kanata councillor Marriane Wilkinson raised the issue of
    EMFs at City Council stating that the health concerns should be
    taken into consideration in planning and zoning decisions and
    that staff should look further into the issue.

    June 1992

         BRHLC makes a deputation to a special meeting of the Ontario
    Hydro Board of Directors held in Ottawa on June 7, 1992. On June
    16, 1992 the BRHLC holds a  public information meeting at the
    Bridlewood school to bring update the community on the EMF issue
    and the committee's activities.

    September 1992

         Carleton Board of Education makes a conscious decision to
    locate new portables at the school site as far away from the
    hydro corridor as possible

    Fall 1992

         Swedish study confirms findings of New York Power Lines
    Project study linking electromagnetic fields from power lines to
    childhood leukemia.

    Winter 1992

         Ontario Hydro upgrades lines to full operating power with 1-
    230 kV line and 2-500 kV lines.

    March 1993

         BRHLC begins series of EMF measurements at Bridlewood school
    site to determine if a continuous monitoring program is
    warranted. BRHLC continues preparations for Ontario Hydro
    environmental assessment panel. Environmental Assessment Board
    has been replaced with an advisory panel due to Ontario Hydro's
    withdrawal of its Demand/Supply Plan. In March 1993 the BRHLC
    also joined the National EMR Alliance composed of public interest
    groups from across North America concerned about the health
    effects of electromagnetic fields.

    May 1993

         BRHLC joins the National Capital Freenet as an information
    provider. The committee has established a section within the
    environment section of the Freenet providing information files
    and a discussion group on electromagnetic fields and health. This
    also provides the BRHLC with access to Internet e-mail and the
    ability to communicate internationally at no cost and distribute
    information throughout the world. Since then we have received
    numerous requests for information from all over the world.

    ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AND HEALTH

    BY: Richard W. Woodley
        Bridlewood Residents Hydro Line Committee

         Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation are separated on the
    electromagnetic spectrum by visible light - a frequency of
    roughly 500 trillion cycles a second. Above that frequency is
    ionizing radiation which contains enough energy to physically
    alter the atoms it strikes, changing them into charged particles
    called ions. Below visible light the low frequency waves are non-
    ionizing - they do not possess enough energy to charge atoms.
    Ionizing radiation, such as nuclear radiation and X-rays, have
    long been known to be harmful. However, the question of the
    health effects of electromagnetic radiation, which is non-
    ionizing is a controversial one.

         Some of the first warnings came in 1972 when scientists in
    the Soviet Union reported strange health effects in switchyard
    workers who were routinely exposed to high levels of
    electromagnetic fields. The workers experienced increased heart
    disease, nervous disorders, blood pressure changes, recurring
    headaches, fatigue, stress and chronic depression.

         Although concerns had been raised earlier, one of the first
    epidemiological studies to indicate a health risk was a 1979
    University of Colorado study by Dr. Nancy Wertheimer and Ed
    Leeper which reported a two to three fold increase in cancer
    deaths among children living near high current power lines in
    Denver, Colorado.

         In November 1986 Dr. David Savitz, of the University of
    North Carolina, reported the results of a study done as part of
    the New York Power Lines Project which confirmed Wertheimer and
    Leeper's findings. The study found increased incidences of
    childhood cancer and leukemia associated with EMF exposures above
    2.5 mG. Dr. Savitz's final report to the New York State Health
    Department stated: "The degree of confidence placed in these
    findings is open to varying interpretation, but the tentative
    conclusion that the study is supportive of an association of
    electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and cancer risk is warranted."

         Dr. David Carpenter, the Executive Secretary of the New York
    Power Lines Project, in response to statements that the Project
    "revealed no evidence that magnetic fields pose a health hazard"
    stated: "Any logical person cannot conclude that there are no
    effects." He said "It's just wrong to imply that there are no
    hazards." Plans are now underway for a second New York Power
    Lines Project.

         The findings of the Wertheimer and Leeper and Savitz studies
    were confirmed by a 1991 study by S.J. London et al., published
    in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

         A University of Southern California study undertaken by John
    Peters and colleagues and published in the American Journal of
    Epidemiology in November 1991 also confirmed these findings.
    Public Power Weekly reported on January 28 1992 that: "The most
    comprehensive study to date of childhood leukemia and exposure to
    electromagnetic fields offers additional evidence that proximity
    to power lines may increase leukemia risk."

         When wire codes were used to measure exposure, the risk of
    leukemia among children with the highest exposure to magnetic
    fields was about two times greater than the risk of leukemia
    among children with the least risk.

         There was no clear association shown when direct
    measurements of magnetic fields in the children's residences were
    used as an indication of exposure. However the discrepancy
    between results based on measurements and those using wire codes
    may mean that wire codes are a more accurate predictor of
    magnetic fields, according to the researchers. They stated:
    "Although magnetic fields are imperfectly approximated by wiring
    configuration, the wiring configuration is determined with little
    error, is unlikely to change over time within a residence, and
    therefore, may actually be a superior indication of long-time
    field exposure than the measurements taken." "Even though our
    24-hour measurements were longer than measurements made in
    previous studies, they're still just snapshots", said Peters.
    "The estimates based on wiring configuration may better reflect
    the long-term exposure."

         These findings were further confirmed by a 1992 Swedish
    study by Maria Feychting and Anders Ahlbom which reported a
    higher relative risk of 2.7 times for childhood leukemia and 1.7
    times for leukemia in adults for subjects exposed to higher
    magnetic field levels compared with the control group in the
    study.

         Christine Gorman in the October 26, 1992 issue of Time,
    stated: "One of the most telling results was that the cancer risk
    grew in proportion to the strength of the electromagnetic field."
    She reported that children with constant exposures to the weakest
    fields (less than 1 mG) had the lowest incidence of cancer. Those
    exposed to 2 mG had a threefold increase in risk and those
    exposed to 3 mG had a fourfold increase in the risk of leukemia.
    As Gorman stated: "Such a clear progression makes it difficult to
    argue that factors other than exposure to the electromagnetic
    field were responsible for the extra cases of leukemia."

         As well a 1992 Danish study found a five-fold increase in
    the risk of childhood leukemia, lymphomas and brain tumours where
    children living near power lines were exposed to 4 mG.

         Children are not the only ones at risk. Microwave News
    reported in March/April 1990 that "there are now at least 12
    studies pointing to an EMF-brain tumour risk". Researcher Dr.
    Samuel Milham Jr. stated: "There are far too many positive
    studies to dismiss an EMF-brain tumour connection".

         As well, Microwave News reported in July/August 1990 that
    epidemiologists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in
    Seattle, WA, had uncovered new evidence for an association
    between occupational exposures to electromagnetic fields (EMFs)
    and the development of male breast cancer. The study supports the
    preliminary findings of a Johns Hopkins University (JHU) study,
    reported last year, showing an increased risk of male breast
    cancer among young New York telephone workers.

         Paul Demers, working with Dr. David Thomas's research group
    at the Hutchinson center, has found that telephone linemen,
    electricians and electric power workers have six times the
    expected rate of male breast cancer - a statistically significant
    increase. For radio and communications workers, the risk was
    almost tripled. Overall there was a doubling of the cancer risk
    for all EMF-exposed workers.

         Over 40 occupational studies have shown that adults who were
    routinely exposed to high EMFS in their work environment had a
    significantly increased chance of dying of cancer when compared
    to other workers.

         Laboratory studies have also shown health effects from
    electromagnetic radiation. Cass Peterson, writing in The
    Washington Post, states: "Similarly, numerous animal studies have
    demonstrated neurological or reproductive effects from low
    frequency electromagnetic fields. Chick embryos show a higher
    rate of abnormalities when exposed to low-frequency fields, mice
    suffer a higher rate of abortion and abnormal fetuses when
    exposed to slightly higher frequencies, approximating those
    emitted by video display terminals." Peterson further stated: "In
    separate experiments, scientists at the Cancer Therapy and
    Research Centre in San Antonio discovered human cancer cells
    exposed to 60 Hz fields (the frequency of a high-voltage line)
    grew as much as 24 times as fast as unexposed cells and showed
    'greatly increased resistance to destruction by the cells of the
    body's defense system.'"

         While doing research for the New York State Power Lines
    Project Dr. Jerry Phillips and Dr. Wendell Winters discovered
    that human cancer cells proliferated like crazy when exposed to
    magnetic fields. As well, the exposed cells became increasingly
    resistant to the body's immune system. Drs. Phillips and Winters
    stated that their observations led them to believe that it was
    possible that magnetic fields stimulate the rate of cancer cell
    growth, or act as a cancer promoter.

         We only have room here to cite a sampling of the hundreds of
    laboratory studies that have shown a link between EMFs and health
    effects.

         Scientific research studies are not the only indicators of
    health effects. The Middletown, N.Y. Sunday Record carried a
    report about a farmer with two 345 kV lines through his farm. it
    reported: "Rodney Grogan got blisters on the back of his head
    after a day spent working under the lines. Then his wife got
    them, too, when she helped. Still, he didn't blame the line until
    his father came to help out, and he got the same, runny
    blisters." Other farmers in the area have similar stories.

         In the United States several courts have ruled on the health
    risk issue.

         In late 1985, after parents brought suit, a Texas court
    ruled that Houston Lighting & Power had shown "callous disregard"
    of their children's health by siting a 345 kV line within 200
    feet of a school and playground. The court ordered the utility to
    relocate the line.

         In June 1989 a Florida judge ruled that children may not
    play in a Boca Raton school yard which borders on high voltage
    power lines. The suit was brought by three local parents who
    sought to close the Sandpiper Shores school because of potential
    electromagnetic field health hazards.

         The judge noted that children have "no choice" about going
    to school and therefore EMF exposure at school is an involuntary
    risk: He stated that "a 1% chance that there is substantial
    danger is unacceptable".

         Official recognition of the health hazards of electro-
    magnetic radiation is slowly coming. In a report issued June 19,
    1989 the United States Congressional Office of Technology
    Assessment stated: "Electric and magnetic fields produced by
    electric power systems may pose public health hazards." The
    report states that a growing amount of evidence now indicates
    that, under certain circumstances, even relatively weak extremely
    low frequency (ELF) fields can cause biological changes and that,
    although the implications are still unclear, "there are
    legitimate reasons for concern".

         Among the report's proposals is a strategy of "prudent
    avoidance": attempting to route new transmission lines so that
    they avoid people; widening transmission line rights-of-way;
    developing designs for distribution systems - including new
    grounding procedures - which would reduce the associated fields;
    and redesigning appliances to minimize or eliminate fields.

         Further official recognition comes from a United States
    Environmental Protection Agency draft report which, according to
    The New York Times (May 23, 1990), says that there is a possible
    link between cancer and the electromagnetic fields generated by
    power lines. In particular, the agency's survey of existing human
    health studies found that children exposed to such radiation
    seemed to face a higher than normal risk of developing leukemia.

         The findings on the possible health effects of exposure to
    radiation from electromagnetic fields generally agree with those
    in the report issued previously by Congress's Office of
    Technology Assessment.

    [Continued to part 2]
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