Electrical substation on K-street harmful to health? (power lines, condo)

[cricketer99]

Hi,
I am interested in buying a condo in Southie. The location of the condo is off of E 1st Street and I street. It is very close to the electrical substation on K street that supplies electricity to all of south boston.

Should I be concerned of any health risks associated with the substation? What can I do to make sure that the EMF levels are not harmful? Does NSTAR perform surveys?

[kingeorge]

Originally Posted by cricketer99

Hi,
I am interested in buying a condo in Southie. The location of the condo is off of E 1st Street and I street. It is very close to the electrical substation on K street that supplies electricity to all of south boston.

Should I be concerned of any health risks associated with the substation? What can I do to make sure that the EMF levels are not harmful? Does NSTAR perform surveys?

I would not buy something in RE with fatal flaw. Most people, rightly or not, would avoid area if possible. Your resale value will suffer, even if you think you are getting good deal there.

I have never heard of any company monitoring for EMF or surveys? If you freely elect to live near something like that, than it is up to you to "measure", and stay proactive in "protecting" yourself, if in deed you think this can harm you.

Personally, I would be less bothered with EMF, than unsightliness and fatal flaw, that will scare future buyers, and rightly so.

Be careful. Do not be penny vise and pound foolish when buying something as big as your permanent home (assuming perhaps too much here). You will not be able to return it, if you decide you do not like it, after all.

Good luck.

[wolfgang239]

You could live in the substation and you would have zero concerns. Kingeorge is correct to point out the potential location issue, but as long as it is accounted for in the purchase price you will be fine.

[millerm277]

Originally Posted by cricketer99

I am interested in buying a condo in Southie. The location of the condo is off of E 1st Street and I street. It is very close to the electrical substation on K street that supplies electricity to all of south boston.

Well, it's certainly not a positive. On the other hand, I'd consider it far less bad than being next to the other industrial uses lining the north side of E 1 St Street, as substations don't have much human activity or other noise associated with them. Obviously the character of the area should be factored into the purchase price, but that's one of the better neighbors to have on that street.

Should I be concerned of any health risks associated with the substation? What can I do to make sure that the EMF levels are not harmful? Does NSTAR perform surveys?

There is no scientific evidence of harm from power lines. And people have been studying the subject and looking for one for decades. It's a pretty settled topic at this point. There's nothing to "test" about your location.