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Research by Magda Havas, Ph.D., of Trent University in Canada, and U.S. epidemiologist Samuel Milham, M.D., links something called “dirty electricity” with diabetes, malignant melanoma, and cancers of the breast, thyroid, uterus and lung. Dirty electricity is an industry term that describes a multi-frequency exposure when higher frequencies like RF couple with the lower frequencies running along power lines.

BPL (Broadband-Over-Power-Lines) is 100% dirty electricity — that’s how it functions — and people barraged by it can now measure RF radiation emanating from their light sockets.

—DOCUMENTATION on Issues Regarding the installation of Smart Meters

Is any of this supported by evidence?

  • Do these people have the qualifications claimed here?
  • Do these people claim what is summarised?
  • Will "dirty electricity" cause cancer?
  • Can people "measure RF radiation emanating from their light sockets"?
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  • A quick note: BPL seems to be an inferior technology compared to optical fiber broadband. Here in SE Tennessee, gigabit fiber is run to the home along the electric poles by the electric utility. So it is not necessarily the case that a smart electric meter needs to run off of BPL internet because other internet technology may be available at the smart meter.
    – Paul
    Commented Apr 16, 2012 at 10:34
  • On RFI from BPL, in the USA the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) has been against BPL because it has potential to increase the HF noise floor and/or generate signals interfering with HF communications. The ARRL has lobbied the FCC and even litigated against it, and probably for good reason. But blocking a weak distress call from getting through, or interfering with hobby communications, is different from being at such a high level that it would cause cancer, which would itself be news because as far as I'm aware a firm link has not been established.
    – Paul
    Commented Apr 16, 2012 at 10:37
  • One way to measure RF around your home, tune an AM radio to a frequency with no station, you will hear just static. Place the AM radio near something noisy, and you will hear it. This only works if tbe noise source is broadbanded (such as something that arcs a lot like the brushes on an old sewing machine or power tool motor) or has energy at the particular freq you used on the radio. Also an AM radio typically contains a directional bar antenna, so you need to do some rotation. FM is much less susceptible.
    – Paul
    Commented Apr 16, 2012 at 10:48
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    In fact, we've had a number of different questions which question EMF. Assuming that all the the claims are bunk, I wonder if it is possible to create a master question with a killer answer to cover all of them?
    – Oddthinking ♦
    Commented Apr 16, 2012 at 12:06
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    The link to the source is now invalid. Moreover, Magda Havas has a track record of dodgy claims and studies in this area and a commercial interest in selling "solutions". That should be a big hint that her work is not a reliable source of evidence. See the related question.
    – matt_black
    Commented Dec 20, 2015 at 15:28

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