My qualifications are those of a non-accredited EMF
researcher with over 15 years' experience particularly re studying
all aspects of toxic EMF pollution with an emphasis on harmful health
effects.
Additionally, I am highly qualified to speak on behalf of those
who fear for their safety both now as result of the chronic, prolonged
exposure to the existing 138 kv overhead powerline that goes through
150 residential backyard rights'-of-way, as well as to appeal on behalf
of these same citizens' very realistic fears that their lives will be
further complicated if the upgrade to 230 kv overhead powerlines is
allowed to go forward.
One of the reasons I am so-qualified has to do with my over
15 years of research and the facts supporting "causation" that I
have accumulated for my book titled "Inflammation and EMF/EMR" which
will be co-authored by the highly respected, very prestigous
scientist, Assoc. Prof. Olle Johansson, from the Karolinska
Institute.
Dr. Nam has indicated your office has received supportive
documentation -- medical journal articles and information based on
various studies re EMF's. Rather than citing those
references, I urge you to review that information in conjunction with
my appeal as well as appeals others have furnished regarding this
very serious issue.
I will, however, provide information that pertains to
the extremely painful, frightening, expensive journey our family
has endured for over 30 years. Given more time, I could come up
with many additional "bad adjectives" to describe the horrors of having
two high voltage lines forced upon us with the blessings of our
U.S. City -- Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and by the predecessors of
the transmission company, "Great River Energy!!!"
Only 50 ft. on the boulevard in front of our house (we were on the
property 15 years before the lines went through and have never been
able to afford to relocate), are a 69 kv high voltage transmission line
and a 230 kv transmission line!!!
Initially when the lines were installed, while I/we were afraid as
to what the "constant buzzing sound" might mean insofar as representing
harm emanating from the wires on the ugly, monstrous poles, we did not
have the knowledge necessary to identify all of the strange and unusual
symptoms I and my family experienced as being related to what is now
often referred to as "dirty electricity," "stray voltage," high
frequencies, etc., in addition to "electric fields," "magnetic fields,"
"transients," "wave forms," "radio frequency radiation," etc..
Many persons living in the neighborhood when the lines went
through, soon sold and moved away leaving us "in-the-dark" as to their
own changing health, suspicions, etc. Most of the homes along our
rural residential road at that time were also set back 150 to 200
ft. -- "long driveways, etc.
Many years of doctoring, taking medications for high blood
pressure, being given glucose tolerance tests for elevated blood sugar,
medication for depression, blood clots in my legs, medications for
pains of all sorts, etc., just for myself, alone, ended up with my
Internist advising me to give up my job (I worked for over 17
years in various office jobs including Executive and Legal
Secretarial/Legal Assistant positions) and to apply for Social
Security. I was only about 40 years old at the time. My
career plans ruined -- I had been attending the University for evening
legal classes while working full-time and am also the mother of four
children -- three boys and a girl.
"The process" of applying for total disability was an experience I
wouldn't want to wish on anyone not to mention the drastic decline in
future income and the inability to build up any profit sharing or
pension, etc. This was a very demeaning situation for a
person such as myself who had started earning my own money at the age
of 12 years.
"Bottom line" is that I have an Award for Social Security
Disability that states in effect, ".....disability awarded on the basis
of claimant's credibilty and in spite of the medical professions' lack
of ability to assign a diagnosis for claimant's pain and
suffering......"
Others in our family were suffering too although my problems were
the most persistent and even life-threatening because EMF's (unknown to
me at the time) were increasing the effects of any and all medications
and I had developed a complete intolerance to blood-thinning
medications that are typically used to prevent blood clotting.
Since that time, I have found information to support that EMF's do
interfere with blood-clotting mechanisms. A hematologist at
the University of Minnesota was consulted and my Internist was informed
that "....this is a first in medical history.....!!!" We
were all unaware of the EMF situation tho.
Looking back on those events and combining the occurences with
knowledge and data I have acquired over the years, it is apparent that
the reason why larger groups of persons were not reporting similar
problems with words such as "unusual, rare, etc.," is that most homes
are not in such close proximity to high voltage lines -- within 50 ft.
of the lines as in our case.
The EMF RAPID Report also makes such a statement in regard to a
very low percentage of homes located so close -- within 50 ft. --
of a transmission right-of-way!!!
Regardless of actual "milligauss readings," the issue of "chronic,
prolonged exposure" is not being given the serious consideration
the matter requires by the ICNIRP, WHO, or the "buried EMF RAPID
Interagency Committee Report (has never been presented to Congress --
confirmed link to immune deficiency and childhood Leukemia at levels as
low as 2.0 milligauss).
The research I have done over the more than 15 years' of study,
confirms that EMF's are toxic. See above reference re toxic
exposures/hazardous exposures on the NIEHS site. The Class 2B
carcinogen status that currently exists re low levels of EMF exposure
(meaning "possible carcinogen") is woefully lacking in specificity when
compared to the overwhelming evidence that exists to support the
connection to especially Leukemia and brain cancer!!!
Certainly if "the powers that be" (including your Environmental
Assessment Office), would give serious consideration to
potential harmful changes due to sleeping every night of
one's life -- women and children appear to be "the most vulnerable"
although men definitely do not escape the wrath of this "cumulative,
toxic pollution" -- and apply some "common sense" to the issue, it soon
becomes apparent that even very low doses of such chronic, prolonged
exposure during what should be "restorative sleep time" -- circadian
rhythm/hormones, etc. -- is capable of producing many adverse health
effects. It would be abundantly clear that "ZERO" is a "safe
limit" for setting standards re milligauss
readings!!! [Adverse health changes include
everything all the way from poor sleep to cancer.]
You can't define "a safe limit" for "a toxic agent" that thereby
is capable of promoting cancer!!!
Having said that, I would like to add that by the time we realized
that our health problems (numerous by then -- I have a 3-page list of
rare and unusual health symptoms and problems for our family) were more
likely than not [more than the 51% proof required for litigation in a
Civil Case] -- CAUSED BY our living so close to the two high voltage
powerlines!!!
It so happens that milligauss readings when checked back in the
late 1980's, were usually less than 2.0 milligauss (a number not to be
too concerned about according to the power company). SO, here we
were with me on total disability AND yet milligauss readings were as
low as 1.5 mg to 2.0 mg at the time I began keeping records (two very
sick grandsons also created new awareness at that
time).........
My husband and I were taking care of two
infant/toddler grandsons at the time I mention above. They
were diagnosed with "VERY RARE" immune deficiencies!!!
Their cells were "aging!!" We were told they may develop
Leukemia. We were asked if children had died in the
family!!! The Immunologist admitted he new about mice and
EMF's and that the mice developed immune deficiency as result.
The doctor did not tell us that he sent the boys' blood to an EMF
researcher -- but "he did!!!"
Fortunately I learned a whole lot about the dangers of low level
EMF's "real quick!!!" We stopped caring for the boys in our
home......we moved their beds away from walls opposite electric
meters. They improved and gradually got well!!!
The facts surrounding our two grandsons are documented proof that EMF's
are responsible for their life-threatening blood changes!!!
Due to my anger with our U.S. Government, the power company, lack
of ability to find anyone in the media to care that our grandsons had
immune deficiencies said to be "rare" and that had "no name," etc., I
decided to study guinea pigs with similar exposure.
Blood studies before exposure on the guinea pigs were
"normal." One out of each set of two died within 30 days' of
exposure. Guinea pigs typically live no less than 3-5
years..... The guinea pigs developed severe neutropenia,
lymphocytosis and "hypersegmented neutrophils" (which I have since
learned are MARKERS FOR IRRADIATION)!!!! Surviving guinea
pigs lived on with blood tests confirming "improvement" after lowering
their exposure levels -- AND "the amount of chronic, prolonged
exposure" -- not just the "milligauss readings themselves........"
As you know, the 2002 EMF California Report has linked brain
cancer, Leukemia, Lou Gehrig's Disease and miscarriage to levels as low
as 4.0 milligauss. If someone has "chronic, prolonged
exposure, night after night when their body is trying to restore
hormones, etc., even if the level would be 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 3.0 mg
instead of 4.0 mg, "the cumulative effect" -- or "common sense" takes
away any argument as to whether exposure of 4.0 mg or below might be
considered "a possible safe level" Again, this is
"impossible," since EMF's are TOXIC!!!!
THEREFORE, the measurements reported by Dr. Kyong Nam and other
residents of Tsawwassen being in the range of 25.0 to 50.0 milligauss
"in houses" is completely "outrageous" and downright
"criminal!!!"
It should interest you to know also that almost no studies exist
regarding blood changes in conjunction with low level EMF/EMR
exposures. One of the most important studies is written in
Russian and closely correlates with findings re my guinea pigs and, in
fact, also re my grandsons. We are in the midst of "major
scientific fraudulent activity!!!"
The medical profession knows full well that when X-ray technicians
need to be followed re possible "over-exposure concerns" due to
"radiation," their white blood cell counts are checked. Low
levels of neutrophils ("neutropenia" as in my guinea pig's tests) and
changes in lymphocytes, are indicative of "over-exposure" and
precautions are then taken.
You have been informed that many of the studies are flawed even
tho there are actually many studies that do find "positive
association/results" re low level EMF's. The word "inconclusive"
is often used. Scientists live in fear of losing
funding IF they produce results that are confirmatory.
Governments claim they "...don't want to panic the
people..."
The American Cancer Society, back in 1993, provided copies of
an article from "USA Today" recommending persons move electric
appliances away from close proximity to beds. I believe the
Canadian Cancer Society actually does have some information on their
site to this effect although not nearly enough is being done to reduce
what I often refer to as "an avoidable healthcare crisis!!!"
The publication that was prepared by the utilities'
communications' experts (here in the U.S.) with a date of 2001, was
"taken out-of-print" almost immediately. The booklet suggests
persons learn about EMF's and "take action that is appropriate for
them...." (not verbatim).
I can tell you that the citizens of Tsawwassen have "learned about
EMF's" -- that knowledge is "first-hand" in the capacity of caring
parents who are struggling to raise healthy children. They are
all victims of "big money," "big power" and their rights have
been taken away. They are "human guinea pigs, " "human
experiments" -- without "informed consent!!!"
To further burden these already "over-exposed citizens" with
transmission lines capable of carrying even larger loads, is, in my
opinion "unconscionable" and literally strips innocent persons of their
civil rights....... Please help to prevent this
needless tragedy!!!
Sincerely,
Joanne C. Mueller
Guinea Pigs R Us
731 - 123rd Avenue N.W.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55448-2127 USA
Telephone: 763-755-6114
"When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will
either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest!" -
Author Unknown
.