Schools to Investigate Power Lines

School board members said Thursday night they plan to investigate possible health hazards presented by electromagnetic fields at school sites.

“We do need to be prudent; we do need to be cautious; but I think all of us are in agreement: We do need to proceed on this,” said Fountain Valley School District board member Stephen J. Einstein.

But board members did not respond publicly to a request by parents for independent testing at each school site. They said that information presented by Supt. Ruben L. Ingram was a good start, but that they needed more data.

Ingram said that board members, in closed session before the meeting, took a position on an offer presented two weeks ago by Allen Brandt, attorney for the parents. Ingram declined to elaborate on the decision.

Brandt said at the last board meeting that he would pursue an existing lawsuit against the district and file additional suits unless the district conducted independent testing at all schools before the end of the month.

Brandt said the parents would drop the lawsuit if the district agreed to independent testing. Measurements of electromagnetic fields taken by the parents have differed from those offered by officials of Southern California Edison Corp.

The subject of electromagnetic fields has aroused the interest of many parents, who worry that power lines at local schools present a health risk to their children.

While the parent group points to studies suggesting a link between prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields and some cancers, Edison officials say no proof exists that the exposure causes health problems.

Edison has offered to test the intensity of electromagnetic fields at all 12 schools in the district, but parents have pushed for independent readings.

Edison official Brian Bennett said Thursday night that he would accept an offer by Brandt to tour several school sites and test the electromagnetic fields there, each with his own equipment.