title: Symptom reporting after the introduction of a new high-voltage power line: a prospective field study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is public concern about the potential health effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) of high-voltage power lines (HVPLs). Some residents living near HVPLs believe ELF-EMF might cause non-specific health complaints.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study is the first to prospectively investigate whether self-reported health complaints and causal beliefs increase after the construction of a new power line.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a quasi-experimental design with two pretests before and two posttests after a new HVPL was put into operation. Residents living near (0-300m, n=229; 300-500m, n=489) and farther away (500-2000m, n=536) participated in the study. Linear mixed models were fitted to test whether symptom reports and beliefs that power lines caused health complaints increased more in residents living close to the new line compared to residents living farther away.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly (p<.05) larger increase from baseline in symptom reports and causal beliefs was found in residents living within 300m from the new power line when compared to residents living farther away. While symptom reports did not differ at baseline, the belief that a power line could cause these symptoms was at baseline already stronger for residents living close compared to residents living farther away.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a negative impact of a new HVPL on health perceptions of nearby residents, even before the line was put into operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jarry T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Porsius
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Claassen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; KLM Health Services, Schiphol, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tjabe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smid
authors.affiliation: Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Woudenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Petrie
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Electronic address: drm.timmermans@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Danielle R M
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Timmermans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Electromagnetic fields; Environmental incident; Power line; Risk perception; Symptom reports