The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) recently conducted measurements of indoor electromagnetic fields in Taipei for the first time, with results indicating that 20 percent of the locations tested had readings of over 10 milligauss (mG).
High readings have been linked to certain health problems.
"That high?" gasped Li Chung-yi (
Li called on the administration to publicize the high-risk locations as soon as possible so that any inappropriate power distribution in schools and hospitals could be adjusted.
Chen Chiao-hua (陳椒華), director of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (TEPU), said that if Taipei, the country's capital, was flooded with excessive electromagnetic radiation in this way, then other cities and counties may pay even less attention to their power distribution infrastructure, making it possible that the danger was even greater outside Taipei.
Chen added that although the WHO had yet to publish a report on the effects of electromagnetic radiation, research on infectious diseases shows that small children regularly exposed to 4mG of electromagnetic radiation had an increased risk of developing leukemia, and that for every 1mG above that level, the risk of developing cancer doubles.
From late March to early last month, the administration took electromagnetic radiation readings in Taipei, the country's most densely populated area, hoping to obtain indoor background radiation measures to use as a reference when amending standards.
The EPA conducted tests in all of the city's 12 administrative districts, measuring electromagnetic levels in two hospitals, two communities, two elementary schools and two kindergartens per district. In total, 16 locations were tested and more than 6,000 measurements were taken in each district.
The study showed that 18 percent of elementary school classrooms, hospitals and homes had levels exceeding 10mG. One percent of kindergartens had readings above 10mG, while 16 percent of power distribution rooms and 34 percent of transformer rooms in communities, schools and hospitals had levels above 10mG. Thirty-two percent of areas near high-voltage wires measured above 10mG.
Four percent of power distribution rooms, 11 percent of transformer rooms, and 3 percent of elementary school classrooms, hospitals, homes and areas near high-voltage lines had readings exceeding 30mG.
The EPA said there was no way to verify at present if electromagnetic radiation was harmful to people's health, and added that it was concerned it might cause unfounded worries among the public.
The EPA was therefore unwilling to release the sampling locations and measurements from its tests, and has no plans to continue sampling in other cities or counties.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said that a surge in respiratory illnesses in China has been caused by at least seven types of pathogens, and small children, elderly people and immunocompromised people should temporarily avoid unnecessary visits to China. The recent outbreak of respiratory illnesses in China is mainly in the north and among children, CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said on Monday. Data released by the Chinese National Health Commission on Sunday showed that among children aged one to four, the main pathogens were influenza viruses and rhinoviruses, while among children aged five to 14, the main pathogens
A New Taipei City hotpot restaurant could be fined after a rat dropped from the ceiling and landed on a customer’s plate last week, the New Taipei City Department of Health said yesterday after conducting an inspection. A woman recently posted on the “I am a Banciao resident” (我是板橋人) social media group saying that she had been eating with a friend at Chien Tu Shabu Shabu Hotpot Restaurant’s Shuangshi B branch in Banciao District (板橋). “While still eating, a big rat suddenly dropped down from the ceiling, landing on a plate next to a hotpot,” she said. “Later on, a member of
A new poll of Taiwanese voters found the top opposition candidate for president jumping past the ruling party’s hopeful into the lead position ahead of January’s election — the latest twist in a drama-filled race. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) had an approval rating of 31.9 percent versus 29.2 percent for the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the poll released yesterday by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation showed. The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), ranked third with 23.6 percent, according to the survey conducted
INCENTIVES: The province’s ‘21 measures’ include enhanced agricultural loans for Taiwanese farmers, and rent waivers and housing subsidies for Taiwanese start-ups China’s Fujian Province on Monday began implementing 15 economic measures targeting Taiwanese in its latest bid to fan pro-Beijing sentiment ahead of the Jan. 13 elections. Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency said the policies were part of “21 measures” unveiled in September by China for Fujian’s “integrated cross-strait development demonstration zone.” The partially implemented measures, which were created with input from Beijing, include reducing the wait time for Taiwanese applying for a visa from 20 days to five days and free public transit for Taiwanese older than 65, it said. Residents of Taiwan were granted use of the “all provincial Taiwanese entrepreneur compatriot