Correlations
A lot of ideas have come up in the last couple journal entries and replies; I have read all sorts of seemingly contradictory information on the internet. I think most of us have heard that high-voltage transmission lines seem to generate a hazardous field: cancer clusters, high rates of child illness, reproductive problems seem to occur in areas near these towers. Yet there are doubters like Quackwatch and, of course, every power company pooh-poohs the idea that strong electrical fields can cause health problems. I didn't spot any real studies on this topic when I Googled it; I really expected to see something done with mice.
Much as we want to believe in Science, Research and the purity of Investigation I really need to point something out. We may see two things that seem to occur together, in this case proximity of high-voltage transmission lines and higher than normal rates of cancer. I think we are prone to assume that one phenomenon causes the other when there may be a third factor involved or some other more complicated relationship actually operating. Have we all also heard about how emergency room traffic increases and strange police calls spike at the full moon? Skeptic sites have fun with that one, too, but we've all heard it. I wonder if cancer near transmission towers could be due to the herbicide the utility companies spread liberally to keep vegetation low in the right-of-way. This is a relationship which explains the correlation but the cause and effect are not apparent on the surface.
Correlation is like the circumstantial evidence of the scientific world. Two (or more) things which seem to go together 'imply' a relationship but nothing is actually proven. It may be impossible to completely test the hypothesis so those who doubt the supposition will always have a fall-back argument. We aren't about to deliberately expose people to high-intensity electrical fields to study this idea. Many of the theories which can never be proven are convincing to many of us through the observation of correlations: Evolution and Global Warming are a couple of theories that come to mind.
Food for thought.
Much as we want to believe in Science, Research and the purity of Investigation I really need to point something out. We may see two things that seem to occur together, in this case proximity of high-voltage transmission lines and higher than normal rates of cancer. I think we are prone to assume that one phenomenon causes the other when there may be a third factor involved or some other more complicated relationship actually operating. Have we all also heard about how emergency room traffic increases and strange police calls spike at the full moon? Skeptic sites have fun with that one, too, but we've all heard it. I wonder if cancer near transmission towers could be due to the herbicide the utility companies spread liberally to keep vegetation low in the right-of-way. This is a relationship which explains the correlation but the cause and effect are not apparent on the surface.
Correlation is like the circumstantial evidence of the scientific world. Two (or more) things which seem to go together 'imply' a relationship but nothing is actually proven. It may be impossible to completely test the hypothesis so those who doubt the supposition will always have a fall-back argument. We aren't about to deliberately expose people to high-intensity electrical fields to study this idea. Many of the theories which can never be proven are convincing to many of us through the observation of correlations: Evolution and Global Warming are a couple of theories that come to mind.
Food for thought.