We all want absolute answers: Yes or No. And this applies particularly to questions that affect our health and well being.

That is why the inability of the scientific community to provide definitive yes or no answers to questions concerning the safety of high tension power lines is frustrating to a lot of people. But a recent study released by the California Department of Health Services got us a lot closer to a definitive response. And the response suggests that it might be better to not live right next to high power electric lines.

After eight years of study, the California EMF program released a report authored by three professional epidemiologists. These professionals analyze and assess health consequences from specified activities. They consider the likelihood that a given activity, in this case the act of living near these lines, will make people sick.

The authors believed that there was likely an enhanced risk of contracting childhood leukemia, brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease and miscarriage if you have long term exposure to electric and magnetic fields. This is a significant finding from leading, unbiased health professionals.

Is this an absolute, definitive answer? No, but provides a convincing basis to conclude that if you have a choice, you may not want to live right next to one of these things.

The report had been the subject of contention for some time. There is even a lawsuit that had been filed against California charging that the report was deliberately concealed.

While we do not get a yes or a no, what we do get is a probability above 50% that substantial exposure to electric and magnetic fields can cause childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease and miscarriage. That means that these experts are asserting that the relationship is more likely present than not present. It is the kind of evidence that trial lawyers provide to juries every day of the year.

What is important about this report is that it was issued by a State Health Department. It was not issued by the utility industry.

The study can be accessed on the internet in its entirety by going to the California Department of Health website. In the report, the three authors, two of whom are CHD epidemiologists and the third is a medical doctor epidemiologist, concluded that to one degree or another, in their opinion they believe that electro magnetic fields can cause some degree of increased risk of these three diseases.

The authors strongly believe that the exposure does not increase the risk of birth defects or low birth weight and they are inclined to believe that they it does not cause an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, alzheimers, or depression.

As to suicide and adult leukemia, it is fair to generally conclude that the scientists are somewhere in the middle and cannot really form an opinion, one way or the other.

In my opinion, if you can avoid doing so you may wish to live a distance from these high power lines. Why take chances?

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.