Some people believe that there are many dangers living in the SUTET area. These high-voltage power lines are thought to cause various diseases, including cancer. Is that true?
Extra High Voltage Air Line or SUTET is an electricity distribution medium used by the State Electricity Company (PLN), in the form of a cable with an electrical voltage of up to 500kV.
SUTET has an important role in distributing electricity from power generation centers to remote areas or to remote areas. Despite having an important function, SUTET is considered unsafe because it is said to cause several health problems.
Alleged Danger of Living in SUTET Area
Besides being able to transmit electricity with high voltage, SUTET also emits electromagnetic radiation. Well, this radiation is thought to cause disease, such as:
1. Cancer in children
SUTET radiation exposure in the long term is claimed to increase the risk of blood cancer (leukemia) in children. The same danger is also at risk for the fetus or pregnant women who live in the SUTET area. In addition, SUTET radiation exposure is thought to increase the risk of babies being born with defects, you know.
2. Breast cancer
There are studies that say that exposure to electromagnetic fields from SUTET can affect hormone metabolism in the body. In women, this effect can increase the risk of breast cancer.
However, this has not been fully proven because the increased risk of a woman getting breast cancer can be caused by many other things, ranging from genetic factors, hormonal disorders, obesity, to smoking or consuming alcoholic beverages.
3. Sleep disturbance
SUTET radiation is said to interfere with the production and performance of the hormone melatonin. This hormone is one type of hormone that plays an important role in regulating sleep time. When the body lacks this hormone, sleep disturbances can occur.
Sleep disturbances are not something that should be ignored, because these disorders can cause you to feel weak, have difficulty concentrating, and get sick easily.
4. Headaches and ringing in the ears
SUTET produces electromagnetic wave radiation. Some reports say that some people living in the SUTET area may experience reactions to electromagnetic waves. These reactions can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, anxiety, chest palpitations, and ringing in the ears.
However, until now it has not been ascertained whether the appearance of these symptoms is indeed caused by SUTET or there are other possible causes.
Well, those are some of the dangers of living near SUTET that need to be considered. However, the claim for the danger of SUTET still needs to be studied further. After all, radiation from SUTET is very different from ionizing radiation, such as nuclear radiation or X-ray radiation. So you don't have to worry too much.
Counteracting the Dangerous Effects of SUTET
The risk of cancer can not only increase due to exposure to SUTET radiation or nuclear radiation, but also various other factors, such as genetic factors, unhealthy lifestyles, age, smoking habits, and prolonged stress.
This cannot be ignored. To reduce the impact of radiation generated by SUTET, there are several ways you can do, namely:
- Do not leave the house, especially from 17.00 to 22.00, because that is when the electric current from SUTET usually reaches its peak.
- Keep a distance from the SUTET location or do not enter the area around SUTET that has been fenced off.
- As much as possible choose the location of the house that is farthest from SUTET.
- Take roads or paths away from SUTET when traveling.
In addition to the methods above, in order to protect yourself from cancer and other diseases, you are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, not smoking, managing stress well, and getting enough rest.
If you currently live near SUTET and have certain complaints or are concerned about the dangers of SUTET to your health, do not hesitate to consult a doctor.