Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

Buying a House Near Power Lines: What You Need to Know

Buying a House Near Power Lines: What You Need to Know

Buying a House Near Power Lines: What You Need to Know

When you’re searching for a new home, you’ll probably look closely at schools, location, and price—but proximity to power lines often goes unnoticed until late in the process. These structures are essential to modern life, yet homes near them can face unique challenges ranging from health and safety concerns to resale value issues and even eminent domain disputes.

If you’re considering buying a house near power lines, here’s what you need to know—plus real-world examples of where things went wrong.

1. What “Near Power Lines” Really Means

Proximity is everything. Being “near” can mean 50 to 500 feet depending on voltage and terrain. There’s a big difference between local distribution poles (carrying 7,000–25,000 volts) and transmission lines carrying 115,000–500,000 volts across large steel towers.

Important questions to ask before buying:

  • What voltage runs through the lines near the home? Higher voltage means stronger electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and larger right-of-ways.

  • How visible or audible are the lines from the house or yard?

  • Does the home sit under or beside a recorded easement or utility right-of-way that restricts landscaping or future additions?

In Fairfield and Bridgeport, Connecticut, homeowners learned this lesson the hard way. The United Illuminating 115 kV rebuild project called for 102 steel towers between 95 and 195 feet tall running through backyards along the Metro-North rail line. Up to 40 homes faced potential demolition or partial seizure through eminent domain. Residents fought the project for nearly a year before it was finally rejected in October 2025 by the Connecticut Siting Council (CT Insider, CT Mirror).

That case illustrates how “near” can suddenly mean in the way when utilities expand infrastructure.

2. Health Concerns and EMF Exposure

Many potential buyers ask, “Is it safe to live near power lines?”

The question centers on exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which are invisible energy zones created by electrical current. Here’s what major studies and health agencies say:

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies extremely low-frequency EMFs as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”—but notes that evidence is limited and inconsistent. (EPA.gov)

  • A California Power Line Study found a small increase in childhood leukemia risk among children living within about 160 feet of high-voltage lines where magnetic fields exceeded 0.4 microtesla. (National Institutes of Health)

  • Other pooled analyses show no consistent link between residential EMF exposure and cancer, suggesting that proximity alone isn’t enough to cause harm. (NIH Research Review)

Still, public anxiety persists—partly because of historical cases. In the early 1990s, teachers at Louis N. Slater Elementary School in Fresno, California, raised alarms after at least 14 staff developed cancers in classrooms located closest to nearby transmission lines. The story made national headlines and was chronicled by The New Yorker in “The Cancer at Slater School.” (The New Yorker)

Even though later studies disputed a clear cause, the Fresno case remains one of the most famous examples of public fear around power-line health risks.

Bottom line: Most scientists agree the health risk is minimal for homes more than 300–500 feet away. But if you’re within 100 feet of a major line—or you simply want peace of mind—consider buying a consumer EMF meter or asking the local utility for field readings.

3. Property Value and Resale Challenges

Even if the science suggests low health risk, the perception of risk can hurt your home’s value. Numerous studies and real-estate analyses show that homes bordering high-voltage lines or visible towers sell for 2% to 10% less and often take longer to move.

That’s exactly what homeowners in Fairfield and Bridgeport feared: not just lost aesthetics but reduced buyer interest. “You don’t expect the reality of something like that,” one 97-year-old resident told CT Insider. “That anybody can impose eminent domain, take away your property, and plop a big pole in your backyard.”

For sellers, the challenge is clear: some buyers won’t even tour a property with visible towers. If you plan to resell, check recent comparable sales in your neighborhood to see whether homes closer to transmission corridors have sold for less.

4. Safety, Maintenance, and Legal Risks

Power lines introduce another dimension beyond perception—practical safety and legal exposure.

Easement and Eminent Domain Issues

Utilities typically hold rights-of-way (ROWs) that allow them to enter, clear trees, and maintain lines. In the Connecticut example, nearly 19 acres of easements were slated to be permanently taken for transmission access. Local officials warned residents that if voluntary deals failed, eminent domain could be used to seize property outright. (Fairfield Town Update PDF)

Across the country, similar cases have emerged:

  • In Michigan, two new 50-mile high-voltage projects by ITC and METC led landowners to accuse utilities of planning to condemn farmland for transmission corridors.

  • In Loudoun County, Virginia, residents of “Data Center Alley” opposed Dominion Energy’s routing plan, fearing property seizures and visual blight.

  • In Wisconsin, multiple landowners sued American Transmission Co. over takings along the Cardinal–Hickory Creek corridor, arguing the company overstepped easement boundaries.

All show that power lines can bring not just humming towers but lawsuits and land loss.

Fire and Electrical Safety

In the West, overhead transmission infrastructure has also been linked to catastrophic wildfires. The 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California—caused by failed PG&E transmission equipment—destroyed 18,800 structures and killed 85 people, prompting widespread evacuations and record utility bankruptcy costs. (CAL FIRE Report)

Following that disaster, utilities across California began issuing Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) to cut electricity during high winds—leaving entire neighborhoods dark for days to avoid line-sparked fires.

In short: living near a corridor means living with whatever risk management the utility deems necessary.

5. How to Evaluate Before You Buy

If you’re seriously considering a property near power lines, take these steps:

  1. Research zoning and easements. Use county GIS maps or title documents to check for any recorded rights-of-way.

  2. Ask about future projects. Contact your state siting council or public utilities commission to see if new line expansions are planned.

  3. Request EMF measurements. Some utilities provide field data upon request.

  4. Talk to neighbors. They can share experiences with maintenance crews, tree-clearing, or noise.

  5. Consult a real-estate attorney. They can review whether eminent domain, easement restrictions, or condemnation risks could affect resale.

  6. Verify insurance coverage. Some fire-prone regions near overhead lines may face higher premiums or limited carriers.

6. Neighborhood Examples Across the U.S.

Fairfield & Bridgeport, Connecticut:
Residents waged a high-profile battle against 100-plus steel monopoles proposed near their homes. The project’s potential to seize land for transmission corridors ultimately led to regulatory rejection. (CT Examiner)

Fresno, California (Slater School):
This cancer-cluster scare remains the most famous EMF-related controversy. It inspired California’s school siting standards, which now require minimum distances of 100 ft for 50–133 kV lines, 150 ft for 220–230 kV, and 350 ft for 500 kV systems. (California Department of Education Site Guide)

Paradise, California (Camp Fire):
Entire neighborhoods were destroyed by a fire traced to transmission equipment failure, reminding buyers that line safety isn’t just theoretical. (Fire Investigation Report)

Loudoun County, Virginia:
Rapid data-center expansion triggered community fights over new high-voltage corridors. Many homeowners feared losing backyards or home value under Dominion Energy’s proposed lines.

Each case underscores a key truth: living near power lines may connect you to more than electricity—it may tie you into decades of infrastructure battles.

7. Benefits and Misconceptions

Not everything about living near power lines is negative.

Potential advantages:

  • Homes are often cheaper due to stigma, creating opportunities in hot housing markets.

  • ROW zones can offer open views or larger yards, since no one can build directly beneath the lines.

  • Power lines don’t interfere with Wi-Fi, cell signals, or home electronics.

Common myths to dismiss:

  • Power-line EMF is not like nuclear or X-ray radiation—it’s non-ionizing and weak.

  • You won’t lose sleep, hair, or pets due to magnetic fields; those claims have no scientific backing.

  • The “buzzing” sound (corona discharge) is primarily an audible annoyance, not a health hazard.

Understanding the difference between perception and data helps buyers make rational, informed decisions.

8. Negotiating and Protecting Yourself

If you find a house you love near power lines, use these strategies:

  • Negotiate the price. Cite comparable homes farther from lines and use the difference as leverage.

  • Add a disclosure clause. Require the seller to reveal any known utility easements, line upgrades, or pending projects.

  • Get title insurance. Ensure it covers future claims or easement disputes.

  • Invest in landscaping. Trees and privacy screens can mitigate visual impact.

  • Plan for resale early. Document that you purchased at a discount; that way, you can resell with the same logic.

Buyers in markets like Fairfield who understood the regulatory risk often secured 10–15% discounts compared with similar homes away from the corridor—proof that knowledge can translate to financial benefit.

9. Final Thoughts

Buying a house near power lines isn’t automatically a dealbreaker—but it demands due diligence. The examples from Connecticut, Fresno, and Paradise show what can happen when infrastructure, health perception, and regulation collide.

If you’re evaluating one of these properties:

  • Know the line’s voltage and distance.

  • Review easements carefully.

  • Understand both scientific facts and community perceptions.

Some buyers see proximity as an affordable opportunity. Others view it as an unacceptable risk. Either way, an informed decision is the only safe one.

By approaching your purchase like an investigator—not just a home shopper—you’ll protect your health, your investment, and your peace of mind.

Can Power Lines Cause Cancer?

Power Lines Cancer

The association between power lines and cancer has been a subject of study and debate for several years. Power lines emit electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and there have been concerns that prolonged exposure to these fields may increase the risk of cancer. However, the scientific evidence regarding this topic is still inconclusive.

Are Power Plants Bad For The Environment?

Power plants can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment, depending on various factors such as the type of power plant, its fuel source, and the technologies used for emissions control. Here are some considerations:

How To Add Power Plant Maps Shortcut To Your Phone

Power Plant Maps Mobile Web App

Mobile app to find coal, gas, and nuclear power plant health and safety issues.  Map of power plants,  pollution, environment & community issues.  Progressive web app maps like ours are the wave of the future and don't require downloads like native phone apps. 

How you add our web app to your iPhone home screen:

Living Near Power Lines or Substations

power lines near home

Buying a house and living near power lines or electrical substations is a personal decision that depends on your comfort level and individual circumstances.  Are there any dangers to living near power lines or electrical substations?  

Here are a few factors to consider when making such a decision:

What Chemicals Are Typically in Coal Ash Ponds?

coal ash pond satellite view

Coal ash ponds typically contain a range of chemical constituents, which can vary depending on the composition of the coal burned, the type of power plant, and the specific processes used. Here are some of the chemicals commonly found in coal ash ponds:

Power Plant Air & Water Pollution

power plant pollution

Power plants are a significant source of air and water pollution. 

National Mortality Rates from Existing Power Plants in US

Map of National Mortality Rates from Existing Power Plants in US

Power plants play a vital role in providing electricity to meet the growing demands of modern society. However, their operations are not without consequences, as the emissions from power plants can have a significant impact on public health. In this article, we delve into the relationship between power plants and mortality rates, shedding light on the health effects of their emissions and exploring potential solutions to mitigate their adverse impacts.

Coal Ash Dumping Ponds Heat Map

coal ash ponds heat map

Where Are The Coal Ash Dumping Locations from Power Plants?

What Does Clean Coal Mean?

clean coal

The term "clean coal" is often used to refer to technologies and practices aimed at reducing the environmental impact of coal-fired power plants, particularly in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. 

Exposure to Air Pollution Increases COVID-19 Deaths by 15%

Exposure to Air Pollution Increases COVID-19 Deaths by 15%

Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of dying from COVID-19 and, for the first time, a study has estimated the proportion of deaths from the coronavirus that could be attributed to the exacerbating effects of air pollution for every country in the world.

Buying A House Near Power Lines or Electrical Substations

Power Lines Near Homes

If you are buying a home these days you should probably do your real estate due diligence on power lines and electrical substations in your neighborhood.

Is it safe to buy a home with power lines in/near the backyard?  Some people think it is safe and others do not think it is safe due to the electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation these power lines have.  The amount of EMF radiation depends on the amount of power that is traveling through the power lines.  Obviously, larger power lines carry more power and EMF radiation.  Here is a chart that explains the safe distances from larger power lines.


Here is another blog post that explains safe distances from power lines also.

Electrical power lines are usually not hard to find so PowerPlantMaps.com does not map these locations.  However,  substations can be a bit obscure in some neighborhoods inside buildings and behind walls.  Now with Power Plant Maps, you can find electrical substations in your neighborhood that might be an issue. 

Search the map for "substation" to find health and safety issues that have been contributed by users. PowerPlantMaps.com also uses satellite images to locate substations and power plants in neighborhoods similar to this image below.   Please also share news articles of problems that we don't currently have on the map.   Here is a video on how to add a new power plant, substation, or power line issues to our map. 

Several lawsuits have been won over the years.  Here is a case in Redondo Beach where a woman won $4M from a lawsuit with Edison over a substation near hear home.  You can find this health and safety issue and similar issues on PowerPlantMaps.com as well. 


PowerPlantMaps.com is also actively trying to get this oil & gas data used by real estate companies like Zillow, RedFin, HomeSnap & Realtor.com.  We think power plant, power line and electrical substation data should be attributes used by these real estate data companies similar to how Walkscore provides information about things nearby a home like schools, restaurants, and parks. 

Most real estate companies have been very reluctant to share this data with prospective home buyers for obvious reasons. Why would any real estate agent want to give a reason NOT to buy a home? Hopefully, this culture of dishonesty will change in the near future and this data can provide some transparency.

Here is an inexpensive EMF sensor you can buy from Amazon called the Ghost EMF Sensor.  It works really well sensing EMF from even the smallest power lines and electrical products within your home and office.  This product has actually prevented me from buying two homes because it told me the house was too close to active power lines and a substation nearby.  

LADWP Hid Power Plant Methane Leak For Over A Year

For over a year, activists have been fighting to shut down the Department of Water and Power's Valley Generating Station in Los Angeles. Generating Station of the Valley, where red and white smokestacks tower over the San Fernando Valley's northeast corner. 

In late August, DWP employees first told the public and their own board of commissioners about the methane leak. During a Tuesday morning board meeting, Adams, the general manager of the utility, made the abrupt announcement, announcing that staff will present details about "a methane gas problem at Valley, and work that we are doing to regulate methane."

One staffer said the compressor units of the plant had been leaking gas "for the last couple of years." The utility had a plan in place to repair the compressors later in the year, but wanted to go public now because the leak was discovered as part of a drone survey by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and "their information is becoming more public," Adams told the board. 

There were some board members shocked. So were the elected officials. The concerns arose quickly: When did the workers discover the leak? Why wasn't the public informed earlier? How much of the plant's methane was leaking?

But the graffiti artist could have been almost anyone in a city burdened by hundreds of landfills, recycling centers, junkyards, trucking businesses, and other disruptive and polluting manufacturing facilities, and bisected by three major freeways. 

Sun Valley and Pacoima residents are breathing some of the worst air in California and suffering from hospitalizations due to asthma at rates much higher than most of the state. So the civic uproar was loud and fast when the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power announced last month that its power plant had been leaking methane gas for at least three years.

Here is a map of the Los Angeles Department of Water (LADWP) leaking methane.  Click on the map to browse other locations. 

Pacoima Beautiful an environmental organization that has been working to shut the power plant down for more than a year. Members claim that L.A.'s shift to cleaner sources of energy progresses too slowly and leaves behind their culture. 

The Valley Generating Station is seen by city leaders as a vital tool to keep the lights on when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing, at least before energy storage systems are cheaper and more flexible. 

There were comparisons to the Southern California Gas Co. Aliso Canyon gas spill, which spewed record-setting methane levels into the air around L.A.'s Porter Ranch neighborhood in late 2015 and early 2016. 

The Valley leak, in contrast, was tiny compared to Aliso Canyon's. At the next board meeting, staff presented slides showing that the defective compressors were leaking methane, the main natural gas part, at rates ranging from 168 to 367 kilograms per hour, readings from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory showed. At Aliso, the rate sometimes exceeded 50,000 kilograms an hour.

Community activists also do not believe that DWP gives them the complete story, especially because utility employees said they discovered the leak in August 2019, a full year earlier. Staffers said that because they didn't think anyone was at risk, they didn't alert the public. 

Except in enclosed spaces, methane itself is not harmful to human health. Yet natural gas also contains small quantities of benzene that causes cancer, and when burned, it releases lung-damaging nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

Evidence of health threats from living near oil and gas installations is starting to appear. A UC Berkeley-led study in July, for example, found that pregnant women living within six miles of oil and gas wells in rural California are much more likely to give birth to babies with low birth weights. And in Porter Ranch, years after the Aliso Canyon spill, people are still experiencing health concerns.

Last week, a committee of the City Council approved motions calling for DWP to faster repair leaks and install air-quality monitors near Valley Generating Station. A third motion, introduced on Tuesday, calls for the establishment of a trust fund for community services to support individuals living near the facility, with the intention of helping residents and schools purchase indoor air purifiers and air conditioners. 

DWP workers state the methane plume has not left the site of the power plant. And recent studies in the local community by the South Coast Air Quality Control District find levels of methane and volatile organic compounds "at normal background levels."

Full article on the LA Times.

Is It Save To Live Near A Nuclear Power Plant?


The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has completed a groundbreaking ecological study of the impact of nuclear power plants on the local population. Despite large studies that say there is no evidence that people living near nuclear power plants are at increased risk of dying from cancer, the federal government is investigating the issue, starting with seven nuclear power plants in Connecticut and California. In a pilot project that will begin in the coming months, the NRC has commissioned the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on cancer risk.

The Office of Radiation Protection continuously monitors radioactivity and trains emergency workers in radiation emergencies. The Office for Radiation Protection monitors radiation levels in the air, water, and soil and continuously checks for radioactive substances and the presence of radioactive substances in air and water.
 
When an accident at a nuclear power plant is expected to release radiation into the area, local authorities activate warning sirens and approved alarms. Information and materials for emergencies can be obtained from the power plant operator, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), or the US Department of Energy. The area within a 10-mile radius of a plant typically includes areas within 1,000 feet of the reactor building or other facilities. If AI has not received information about the safety of people living within 10 miles of nuclear power plants, please contact your local Emergency Management Office.
 
Citizens living near a nuclear power plant must be regularly informed of procedures to inform them of problems at the plant and to take action when protective measures such as evacuation or shelter are required. This EPA fact sheet provides information for people living within a 10-mile radius or within a 10-mile radius of a reactor building or other facility, including how to respond in an emergency. It is an important resource for people, especially those living within ten miles of nuclear power plants and who may be exposed to radiation from nuclear power plants.
 
NPR wants to hear above all from the residents of a nuclear power plant about their experience with radiation pollution. We would like to hear from you at 800-989-8255 to learn more about your experience in the nuclear power plant environment.
 
We spoke to the National Academy of Sciences to remind them of the health studies they have conducted on nuclear power plants and their impact on public health and safety. This report continues to support the fact that US nuclear power plants do not affect public health and safety. It is not just a statistic that other children live near a nuclear power plant and get cancer.
 
We point out that coal-fired power stations release 100 times more radioactivity than nuclear power stations, and there is data showing that people living near a coal-fired power station are at a higher risk of cancer than those not living near the power station. Studies show that the amount of radioactive material released in operated coal-fired power plants is the same as in nuclear power plants. We quote a study by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which states that 'coal-fired power plants have released up to 100,000 tonnes of radioactive waste per year, or more than the total amount of radiation emitted by an operational power plant in the US.
 
The COMARE report contrasts this with a German study which calls for an increase in the risk of leukemia and other cancers in people living near nuclear power stations. The estimated radiation dose that people take in near coal-fired power plants is about twice as high as that of nuclear power plants or coal-fired power plants. However, a study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found no significant difference in cancer risk between people with cancer and those who do not live in close proximity to nuclear and coal-fired power plants. In fact, the risk of childhood leukemia in areas with high radiation exposure, such as the United States and Germany, has roughly doubled, according to the CDC.
 
Ten years after the leak began, a person living near the plant was twice as likely to get cancer as someone living elsewhere in the U.S. The latest report by COMARE examined the health of children under the age of 5 living near 13 British nuclear power stations. Such studies deal with radiation exposure to the surrounding population, not just the nuclear power plant itself.
 
Nuclear power stations are built according to certain regulations, so the energy costs are lower when you grow up there. District heating near a nuclear power plant is, however, much more expensive than in other parts of the US and Canada. For example, the first nuclear power plant in the United States, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, was shut down in 1971.
 
The closure has led to an increase in the number of people living closer to the power plant, as proximity to the plant is linked to employment in the vicinity of the power plant. The other part, of course, is how many jobs they create over time, but I ask you to think about how important they are to meet the nation's electricity needs in the years ahead. Is it safe to live near a nuclear power plant, especially if you live in a city with a high concentration of nuclear power plants, such as New York City? 

Coronavirus Fatalities Higher in Heavily Polluted Areas

China Pollution Map Before vs After Coronavirus


People living in areas with high air pollution are more vulnerable to novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, doctors have warned. Accordingly, residents of polluted urban regions have been urged to take extra precautions against the disease. The global lock-down inspired by the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, has shutdown factories and reduced travel, slashing lethal pollution from power plants in China.

In an interview with The Hindu, a medical community named Doctors For Clean Air (DFCA) stated that long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution compromises an individual’s lung function, making that person more susceptible to viral infections. Due to the lungs’ reduced capacity, such individuals are also likely to face greater health complications, particularly related to coronavirus, as compared to their healthier counterparts.

Scientists estimate the U.S. death toll from air pollution at more than 100,000 per year, and the World Health Organization estimates the global toll at 7 million.  The global death toll of an uncontained pandemic remains largely a matter of conjecture. Reductions in air pollution and global heating could save more lives.

Air pollution from power plants is likely to increase mortality from the novel coronavirus in cities, public health experts. The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) warned that dirty air in urban areas that causes hypertension, diabetes and other respiratory illness could lead to a higher overall death toll from the virus currently sweeping the world. “Patients with chronic lung and heart conditions caused or worsened by long-term exposure to air pollution are less able to fight off lung infections and more likely to die,” EPS member Sara De Matteis said.

While there is currently no proven link between COVID-19 mortality and air pollution, one peer-reviewed study into the 2003 SARS outbreak showed that patients in regions with moderate air pollution levels were 84 percent more likely to die than those in regions with low air pollution. COVID-19 is similar to SARS and can cause respiratory failure in severe cases. Mortality data for COVID-19 is incomplete, but preliminary numbers show the majority of patients who die are elderly or have pre-existing chronic conditions such as heart or lung disease. According to the European Environment Agency, air pollution leads to around 400,000 early deaths across the continent annually, despite European Union air quality directives. One COVID-19 hotspot, northern Italy, has particularly high levels of PM10 — microscopic particles of pollution due largely to road traffic.

A study on the SARS coronavirus outbreak in China in 2003 found that infected people from highly polluted areas were twice as likely to die from the virus as those from places with purer air. Researchers also found that the SARS death rate went up as pollution levels increased, rising from 4% in less polluted areas to 7.5% in moderately polluted and 9% in highly polluted locations.

The terrifying consequences of living near a nuclear power plant: and guide to protecting yourself

The standard of living in modern cities is increasingly high. And, with these high standards are consequent financial responsibilities. For many, this has strengthened their resolve to live far away from the City center. Apart from the serenity and lower cost of living, the outskirts are characterized by lower crime rates, lesser congestion and more closely-knit communities. What’s not to like?
Spurred on by these ‘advantages’, more and more houses are now being sited in close proximity to oil and gas drilling locations, radiological health centers and even nuclear power plants. For some, settling around these places is not entirely of their design. Regardless, is living close to a nuclear power plant the best course of action?
In the 1950s, there was huge enthusiasm for nuclear energy. As opposed to the other methods of generating electricity, it was cleaner- producing no direct atmospheric emissions (under normal operating conditions). And it had far better yields. One pound of uranium-235 can produce over two million times more electricity as one pound of coal or oil. However, radiation fears and the subsequent fallout from the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters tempered this enthusiasm. And understandably so.
Vast improvements have since been made in nuclear technology. Between the plethora of barriers and sophisticated safety systems in operation, regulatory oversight from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the increased levels of operator training, it is highly unlikely that a disaster would occur. However, no system is fail-proof. No system is perfect. And, for a variety of reasons: natural disasters near the power plant, human error and plant mismanagement, amongst others, an accident may occur.
In the unlikely event of an accident, living close to a nuclear power plant puts you at enormous risk. An uncontrolled nuclear reaction could result in widespread contamination of air and water. Besides, direct radiation from the damaged reactor is a possibility in this scenario. Depending on the distance from your house to the reactor and the level of radiation, the effects may not be devastating.
More ominously however, is the prospect of ingesting a radioactive isotope. The most common isotopes released during a nuclear accident are Iodine-131 and Caesium-137. Accumulation of the former may cause thyroid cancer and the latter can interact with DNA; causing a malfunction and eventually lead to cancer.
Studies have shown that there is in fact no direct correlation between cancer and living close to a nuclear facility. However, the associated dangers in operating a nuclear power plant and the likelihood of human error mean it’s hardly the best of ideas.
The Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania, 1979 remains the most serious nuclear disaster in US history and a survey carried out in 2010 showed that there have been at least 55 other accidents involving nuclear reactors in the United States.  See power plants Pennsylvania map. 
All the same, there are more than 120 million Americans living within 50 miles of a reactor, and if you are among these ‘brave’ Americans, there are several ways you can protect yourself, in the unfortunate event of an uncontrolled reaction.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends understanding- and applying the principles of time, distance and shielding.
Limiting the exposure time gives you a greater chance of escaping unscathed, as it reduces the dose from the radiation source.
Moreover, the further away you are from the radiation, the safer you’d be. If your house is in close proximity to the reactor, this may not be practical. Nonetheless, maintaining adequate barriers between yourself and the radiation source could be effective. Barriers may include lead, or concrete. Herein, is the design of your house important?
Furthermore, the EPA suggests staying indoors, taking a shower, eating sealed foods and drinking bottled water. And of course, staying tuned for further instructions.
The protective measures and ‘pros’ notwithstanding, living close to a nuclear power plant is not ideal. And, in a normal world, wouldn’t be an option. But, it is. And, more and more people are living right next to active reactors. Technology, eh?
Precious Marho is a freelance copywriter. He covers the safety, oil and gas and green energy industries.

Map of Nuclear Power Plants Worldwide

map of nuclear power plants worldwide
Map of 200+ Nuclear Power Plants & Health & Safety Issues Worldwide
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