Children who live and play around power lines, within 100 meters of the vicinity, double their chances of contracting childhood leukemia, which is a type of cancer of the blood. Leukemia is caused by prolonged exposure to electromagnetic waves and in this case, high-voltage power lines. Children below the age of 15 can be affected by this but those less than 5 are the most vulnerable.
After construction of masts and supports for overhead high voltage power lines, birds tend to build nests on them and sometimes make them permanents habitats. However, when some birds such as swallows are exposed to continuous electromagnetic waves caused by the high voltage cables, the number of hatch-lings significantly reduces from the initial number prior to the exposure.
Houses constructed near high voltage power lines have lost value after the discovery of the adverse effects of the electromagnetic waves caused by the power lines. Home buyers avoid buying such properties, forcing the prices down.
High voltage power lines cause corona discharge, the loss of electricity to the surrounding air triggering the formation of environmental pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen. These gases cause interruptions in radio waves and audio signals leading to loss of mobile coverage for cell phones under these power lines.
Some animals and birds tend to hang around power lines and their masts and supports. However, if not properly insulated, these heavy current currying conductors might end up electrocuting these animals and eventually killing them. On the other hand, some natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, cyclones and heavy rainfall might end up felling the power line supports causing danger to both people and property.