Hybrid EMF Risk Still Uncertain

This looks like a story planted by big oil to discourage buying cars that run without oil.

Let's look at the article: "the flow of electricity IN HYBRIDS causes magnetic fields." But the flow of electricity causes magnetic fields, so why not say the flow of electricity in your home and place of employment causes magnetic fields? Why single out hybrids?

"A small number of drivers have become ill after buying a hybrid." But is the number any different than the number of drivers that become ill after buying a non-hybrid? People suffer from high blood pressure without driving hybrids, and people have been falling asleep behind the wheel without driving hybrids.

"the levels exceed various international standards." What are the published standards and what are the measurements? No information provided.

"not surprisingly, hybrid-producing car companies down play the risks." The implication here is that those claiming the risks are valid have no economic ax to grind, but those who say the risks are minimal, have an economic ax to grind. This is an ad homenim argument, a logical fallacy, shooting the messenger instead of addressing the message.

"additional research would improve our understand of the issue." Well duh, I'm all for understanding those little signs that say pumping gas risks getting cancer. Coupling a mother-hood statement, like getting better information is a good thing, with an unverified assertion of danger is simply an effort to gain credibility by association. Propaganda folks, pure and simple.

Interesting that there is nothing about gasoline. Nothing about the carcinogenic fumes, nothing about it being a deadly poison, nothing about the risk of injury from fire or explosion, nothing about the adverse health effects of the pollutants generated when it's burned.

I gotta agree. Propoganda.

If people are seriously worried about EMFs from their hybrid car, they should immediately take the following steps:

1) Remove the batteries from all portable electronic devices in their homes, particularly radio transmitters like wireless devices;

2) Find the master breaker on their home's electrical service panel and move it to the "off" position;

3) Move themselves, by foot obviously, to a place with no EMF.

The amount of VOCs a car contains from all the plastic parts in it (and on a nice hot summer day) that leach out are far more harmful.

I don't know what it was about a friend's Audi TT but when I got into that car, I was vomiting my guts out half an hour later...the smell of whatever it was in that brand new car completely overwhelmed me...the adhesives, etc...I don't know...and I know it had to do with the car because THAT was what affected me.

People who drives a hybrid should still conserve fuel. If this is true, then the time people spend in a hybrid EMF environment should be at lower health risks than from having laptop on their laps, or the hair dryer pointing at their heads.

This is quite easy to resolve. A faraday cage around the high vlotage components will stop the magnetic field cold. A faraday cage could be a simple copper screen tied to ground. It is simple and cheap.

I was wondering about the Faraday cage myself. Seems like an easy fix that would be fairly inexpensive to implement, if a person was worried.

This DOES sound like propaganda from those that profit from more gas usage though.

If you are not concerned about EMF, please feel free to take the shielding off your microwave oven door and stand in front while using it.

BTW, microwave oven concept was discovered accidentally while working on a radar system. It melted the chocolate in his front pocket.

I'm not saying EMF if like being inside of a microwave oven while it is operating, but long term low level exposures cannot and should not be ignored.

Some previous posters said there was no reputable research suggesting the dangers of EMF. They were quite misinformed. Dr Robert Becker has done extensive research on the subject and was a pioneer in the use of the medical applications for electricity in bone fracture healing and limb regeneration. In his studies, and several in Europe, it has been found that EMF, especially low level, can have profound impacts on biological organisms. Animal studies have suggested that even low level fields, like those on the level of the typical office, can have serious health affects. Even a Dept of Energy commissioned study by Battelle labs in Columbus, Ohio found that rats exposed to EMF had growth retardation and weight gain compared to controls.
Do a web search on Robert Becker and check out the volume of peer reviewed, published studies on the subject. And these are from reputable journals, not fringe ones. Then draw your own conclusion.
The most important thing is to minimize exposure. If a car does in fact generate a large EMF, and you spend 1- 2 hours per day commuting, like most people in large cities, then you may have a greater risk of potential problems, then someone using a high powered hair dryer for 5 minutes.

I bought a house under a bunch of high voltage power lines years ago. I only lasted there a few months and I had to sell the house; I could feel and "hear" the elecricity- and had buzzing in my scalp that disappeared when I was not in the house. The EMF was very high- I had a friend who was an electrical engineer who measured it. I read a lot about leukemia rates being higher in schools and homes near power lines and transformer boxes (those big boxes on people's front yards that house electrical stuff). I know I am more sensitive that most people, but the experience has made me afraid to get a hybrid, though I would love one. I think I'll have to do some more research. I know another very intelligent scientist who says hybrids are not dangerous, so, lots of conflicting info.