KOUA,
Is that evaluation of having nothing wrong with you, nothing! nothing! nothing! your evaluation or is it the confirmed feeling of medical professionals? (Laughing!) Living your life under 69,000 volts is something that few of us experience. By they way, my comment is entirely in jest and I presume your personal evaluation of nothing wrong is probably right on.
Years ago I made hay on a 35 acre piece of ground on which we farmed directly below some very high voltage lines, I don't know what the voltage was, but the wires were suspended in three sets of three wires each that were also separated from each other by a triangular device that provided approx. 3 ft of separation between the three wires suspended on each of three support arms on each tower. There were two rows of towers set side by side. To the best of my knowledge, these transmission lines were part of the main north south inter tie system between Bonneville Power from the dams on the Columbia River and a connection that fed into California.
I was told that depending on the season of the year and the time of day power was routed over these lines north or south to provide energy as the demand changed in any given area, air conditioning versus heating often being the determining factor.
When working directly below the lines they were usually silent and you pretty much forgot they were there. At certain times, for instance, in summer in mid afternoon, the lines would begin to crackle and make buzzing/low tone arching type noises. Later in the afternoon the noise level increased and the lines would begin to slowly sway back and forth even though no wind was blowing. I am not sure if we imagined it or not, but it seemed like we detected a sensation like the hair standing up on your arms, head etc., during the time that the noise level was the highest and there was noticeable swaying of the lines.
We worked around and under those lines only a few hours each haying season and as far as I know, just like KOUA I am not aware of any detrimental affects from the exposure to the hight voltage transmission lines.
I never did get concerned about it, but my exposure was very minor and in those days you tended to assume the people in charge of things like power lines would be sure to prevent any harm coming to their neighbors. As time has gone on, that may have been proven a poor assumption.
To button this thing up, I also would recommend a thorough research of the most recent understanding of the affects of high voltage on you, especially if you are potentially putting yourself in a situation involving long term exposure to high voltage electric transmission lines and facilities.
The best of luck with your new property and heres hoping the transmission lines are much more a positive factor in the acquisition of and utilization of the property, especially when the lines might help keep the purchase price down and you would still have a great property to enjoy for many years.
Nick, North West Farmer
