A FATHER who campaigned about the dangers of electromagnetic fields following the death of his son from leukaemia says he remains sceptical that anything will be done following a new report.
Ray and Denise Stud- holme's 13-year-old son, Simon, died 15 years ago from leukaemia, with the couple blaming his illness on electromagnetic fields surrounding their home.
Simon's bedhead was inches away from an electricity meter box and a burglar alarm.
The house in Churchill Drive, Little Lever, is also next to an electricity substation and there are power lines and pylons nearby. Mr and Mrs Studholme campaigned for years, believing that electromagnetic fields killed their son, and even attempted to take legal action against energy company Norweb.
Now a leaked report from the Government-commissioned Stakeholder Advisory Group on Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation says ministers should consider banning the building of schools and homes within 200 feet of overhead power cables.
Experts are still arguing about the possibility of a link between childhood leukaemia and prolonged exposure to power fields, but several studies have suggested that the risk of the illness doubles at high levels of exposure.
But Mr Studholme says more children could be facing the same dangers as Simon, their parents unaware of the hazards, and he does not believe anything will be done.
"It seems to me that every five years or so we have a report like this and it becomes a big issue but nothing happens," he said.
"We can't do without electricity, but people should know about the dangers."
The Studholmes still live in the same house, although the family takes extra precautions against electromagnetic radiation, turning off all power to the property at night.
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