Electrical Pollution: A health threat for our students and teachers

What is electrical pollution?

Electrical pollution is “dirty” power on building wiring and flowing uncontrolledacross the earth and everything in contact with it, including playgroundequipment and lawns. This problem has continued for so long, although wecan feel the effects, because we cannot see or smell the problem withoutspecialized equipment, unlike a sewer leak.

In what way does it affect students and teachers?

Our modern electrical devices are presumed to be safe. However, none of them have been tested for long-term safety, other than to determine that theywill not cause fire or electrocution. Recent studies show that the highfrequencies (“dirty” power) generated on our electrical wiring by modernelectronics, energy efficient lighting, dimmer switches, variable speed motors,etc., in addition to shortening the lives of electrical devices, cause humanhealth problems.Technical papers provide a solid electrical and biomolecular basis for theseeffects. A recent paper by Ozen

, showed that transients induce muchstronger current density levels in the human body than does the powerline60Hz signal. Another technical paper

discusses the authors’ findings thathigh frequency communication signals on powerlines also induce muchstronger electrical currents in the human body than a low frequency signal of the same strength. The induced currents disturb normal intercellular communications. This causes the harmful short-term and long-term effectsmentioned below.

“Dirty” power causes cancer:

A recent study of a cancer cluster in aCalifornia school found a very strong link between the levels of highfrequencies on the wiring in classrooms and cancer. This led the researchersto conclude: “If our findings are substantiated, high frequency voltagetransients are a new and important exposure metric and a possible universalhuman carcinogen similar to ionizing radiation.”

Substantially reducing “dirty” power:Improves teacher health and the learning environment.

A study in three

Minnesota schools found that reducing the high frequencies on the wiring ledto a net improvement of 34% in teacher health. “Teachers reported thatstudents were more actively involved and more responsive during classes.The amount of time it took to start the class and to deal with disruptions wasreduced. Students were more focused and required fewer repetitions of instructions and had fewer health complaints. Overall this resulted in animproved learning environment and a better learning experience.”

Improves Attention Deficit Disorders, MS symptoms, blood sugar control, asthma, sleep quality, allergies, and reduces hyperactivity andmigraines..

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When electrical pollution levels are reduced sufficiently, healthimproves without other lifestyle changes.How can electrical pollution levels be reduced to acceptable levels?

In the long-term, the school district can make sure that all electronic andelectrical devices they purchase do not put out “dirty” power.In the short-term, Graham-Stetzer Filters would need to be installed bypolluting devices and in specially selected outlets around the school. Duringinstallation outlets would be chosen to maximize filter effectiveness andminimize the number of filters needed. Studies show that these filterseffectively reduce electrical pollution levels and improve health.

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Installation should be done by Dave Stetzer (608-989-2571) who is a power quality expert and has years of experience cleaning up “dirty” power for human health reasons.

More information about electrical pollution and health is available atwww.electricalpollution.com.References:

1.Ozen, S. 2007. Low-frequency Transient Electric and Magnetic FieldsCoupling to Child Body, Radiation Protection Dosimetry (2007), pp. 1–6.2.Vignati, M. and L. Giuliani, 1997. Radiofrequency exposure near high-voltage lines. Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 6):1569-1573 (1997)

Milham S, Morgan L. 2008A New Electromagnetic Exposure Metric:High Frequency Voltage Transients Associated With Increased Cancer

Incidence in Teachers in a California School. American Journal of Industrial Medicine.4.Havas M, Olstad A. 2008. Power quality affects teacher wellbeing andstudent behavior in three Minnesota Schools, Science of the TotalEnvironment, July.

Havas M. 2006.Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: biological effects of dirty electricity with emphasis on diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Electromagnetic Biology Medicine 25(4):259-68.6.Havas M. 2008. Dirty Electricity Elevates Blood Sugar AmongElectrically Sensitive Diabetics and May Explain Brittle Diabetes.Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 27:135-146.7.Sbraggia, C. 2003. Letter Regarding Health Effects of Graham-Stetzer Filter Installation, www.electicalpollution.com

Contacts at schools that have cleaned up their electrical pollutionlevels:

Ron Perry, Superintendent Melrose-Mindoro School District, WI.Angela Olstad, Building Principle and Fourth-grade Teacher, Melrose-Mindoro School District, WI.