Is this claim true? Some activists say yes, while most scientists rate it as
one of many health scares that prove to be without basis when carefully studied.
Bioscientists point out that the electric fields due to power lines at the location of
a cell in the body are thousands of times smaller than those due to the normal
electric activity of nearby cells. They also point out that cancer rates have remained
constant or fallen over the last 50 years (with the exception of rising cancer rates
due to smoking). Yet during this time, exposure to ELF radiation has increased
tremendously. More detailed analysis of the studies that prompted the controversy
show no link between ELF and cancer.
Suppose you're a scientist and you find uncertain evidence that some
common food—tomatoes, for example—may be a serious health risk. What
responsibility would you have to make your findings known to the general
public? If you stress the uncertainty of your findings, perhaps no one will
listen. Should you then make sensational claims, even unsupported, to get
people's attention?
A
