Appendix #37 Review of Research Relevant to Direct Current and Alternating Current ...

282 Pages·2012·7.54 MB·English

Appendix #37

Review of Research Relevant
to Direct Current and
Alternating Current
Transmission Lines and
Health

Northern Pass Project
Review of Research Relevant to
Direct Current and Alternating
Current Transmission Lines and
Health

Northern Pass Project

Prepared for

Northern Pass, LLC
670 North Commercial Street, Suite 207
Manchester, NH 03101-1185

Prepared by:

Exponent
17000 Science Drive
Suite 200
Bowie, MD 20715

October 5, 2015

 Exponent, Inc.

108144.001 - 2055
Contents

Page
List of Figures vi 
List of Tables vii 
Acronyms and Abbreviations viii 
Limitations x 
Executive Summary xi 
Alternating Current Transmission Lines xi 
Direct Current Transmission Lines xiii 
Introduction 1 
PART I – THE ELECTRICAL ENVIRONMENT OF ALTERNATING CURRENT AND
DIRECT CURRENT TRANSMISSION LINES 3 
Overview of Electric and Magnetic Fields 5 
Electromagnetic Spectrum 6 
Sources and Exposure 7 
Extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields 7 
Static magnetic fields 12 
Static electric fields 13 
Space charge 14 
PART II - METHODS FOR EVALUATING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 18 
Weight-of-Evidence Reviews 20 
EMF Exposure Considerations 21 
Methods of Health Research Studies 23 
Epidemiologic studies 23 
Experimental laboratory studies 30 
PART III - EVALUATION OF ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTRIC AND
MAGNETIC FIELDS AND HEALTH 34 
Guidelines for Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields 35 
World Health Organization Assessment of Extremely Low Frequency Electric and
Magnetic Fields 37 
Reviews by Other Scientific Organizations 44 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 44 
International Agency for Research on Cancer 44 
iii
108144.001 - 2055
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection 45 
Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Emerging Health Risks 46 
Current Status of Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Field Research on
Health 47 
Childhood leukemia 48 
Childhood brain cancer 52 
Breast cancer 53 
Adult leukemia and brain cancer 55 
Reproductive/developmental effects 58 
Neurodegenerative diseases 61 
Cardiovascular disease 63 
In vivo studies related to carcinogenesis 64 
Research on livestock, wild animals, and plants 75 
PART IV - EVALUATION OF DIRECT CURRENT ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC
FIELDS AND HEALTH 80 
Guidelines for Static Electric and Magnetic Fields 81 
WHO Assessment of Static Electric and Magnetic Fields 82 
Reviews by Other Scientific Organizations 84 
Static electric and magnetic fields 84 
Air ions 87 
Current Status of Static Electric and Magnetic Field Health Research 88 
Static magnetic fields 88 
Static electric fields 93 
Relevance of static electric fields to human health 97 
Space Charge 99 
Human studies 102 
Animal studies 108 
Research on livestock, wild animals, and plants 122 
PART V – SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 129 
Alternating current 345-kV and 115-kV transmission lines 130 
Direct current ±320 kV transmission line 132 
References 137 

Annex 1 Experimental animal studies of static electric fields
Annex 2 Air ions and respiratory function outcomes: A comprehensive review
iv
108144.001 - 2055
Annex 3 Air ions and mood outcomes: A review and meta-analysis
Annex 4 Experimental animal studies of air ions
Annex 5 Quantitative assessment of animal studies of air ions
Annex 6 Magnitude of reported effects in animals as a function of ion density
v
108144.001 - 2055
List of Figures
Page
Figure 1.  Common sources of EMF in the home 8 
Figure 2.  Extremely low frequency magnetic- and electric-field levels in the environment. 9 
Figure 3.  Basic IARC method for classifying exposures based on potential carcinogenicity. 39 
Figure 4.  Possible explanations for the observed association between ELF magnetic fields and
childhood leukemia. 41 
vi
108144.001 - 2055
List of Tables
Page
Table 1.  Static magnetic-field levels from environmental and manmade sources 13 
Table 2.   Comparison of static electric-field levels from the proposed project to other sources 14 
Table 3.   Air ion levels from a variety of background sources 16 
Table 4.  Measured fraction of aerosols (0.65-1.0 micrometers [µm]) carrying charges in
various locations 17 
Table 5.   Criteria for evaluating whether an association is causal 29 
Table 6.   Criteria for evaluating experimental studies 32 
Table 7.   Exposures corresponding to Basic Restrictions (limits) for public exposure to 60-Hz
electric and magnetic fields 36 
Table 8.   Exposure values for static electric and magnetic fields 81 

vii
108144.001 - 2055
Acronyms and Abbreviations
5HT 5-hydroxytryptamine
5HIAA 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid
µm Micrometer
AC Alternating current
ALL Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AMI Acute myocardial infarction
AMP Adenosine monophosphate
CAT Catalase
CI Confidence interval
CO Carbon dioxide
2
CSC Connecticut Siting Council
DC Direct current
DMBA Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene
ECG Electrocardiogram
EEG Electroencephalogram
ELF Extremely low frequency
EMF Electric and magnetic fields
F344 Fischer 344
FDA Food and Drug Administration
FEV Forced expiratory volume
G Gauss
GHz Gigahertz
GSH-Px Glutathione peroxidase
Hz Hertz
IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer
ICES International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety
ICNIRP International Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
IFN-γ Interferon-γ
IL Interleukin
viii
108144.001 - 2055
ISCO International Standard Classification of Occupations
JEM Job exposure matrix
kHz Kilohertz
kV/m Kilovolts per meter
L/min Liters per minute
m Meter
MDA Malondialdehyde
mg/kg Milligrams per kilogram
mG Milligauss
MHz Megahertz
MPD Mean proportional difference
MRI Magnetic resonance imaging
MW Megawatt
nm Nanometer
NO Nitrous oxide
NPT Northern Pass Transmission Line
NRPB National Radiological Protection Board
OR Odds ratio
OSI Oxidative stress index
ROW Right of way
RR Relative risk
SCENIHR Scientific Committee on Newly Identified Health Risks
SMD Standardized mean difference
SOD Superoxide dismutase
T Tesla
TAC Total anti-oxidant capacity
TOS Total oxidant status
TWA Time weighted average
V/m Volts per meter
WHO World Health Organization
WNI Water-generated negative air ions
ix
108144.001 - 2055
Limitations
At the request of Northern Pass Transmission LLC, Exponent prepared this summary report on
the status of research related to alternating current and direct current electric and magnetic fields
and health. The findings presented herein are made to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty.
Exponent reserves the right to supplement this report and to expand or modify opinions based on
review of additional material as it becomes available, through any additional work, or review of
additional work performed by others.
The scope of services performed during this investigation may not adequately address the needs
of other users of this report, and any re-use of this report or its findings, conclusions, or
recommendations presented herein are at the sole risk of the user. The opinions and comments
formulated during this assessment are based on observations and information available at the
time of the investigation. No guarantee or warranty as to future life or performance of any
reviewed condition is expressed or implied.
x
108144.001 - 2055