[Weird Fishes]

I've noticed that Fiskerbuzz has a plethora of doctors who post here, so I thought I'd ask a question regarding Electromagnetic Fields (E.M.F.s) and health hazards as related to electric vehicles such as the Karma.

If you search E.M.F.s online, you'll quickly stumble upon sites that weigh in on whether or not E.M.F.s created by electric motors in EVs are likely to cause cancer or other health conditions in humans who drive or ride in them. One camp pretty clearly thinks they are a danger. The other camp seems to take a more moderate 'no one knows for certain yet because the technology is relatively new, but current research shows it is very unlikely that electromagnetic fields cause cancer' approach.

My own suspicion is that the people who think drivers of EVs are at higher risk of developing cancer are the same people who believe things like flouridation of water is a Communist plot to take over the world, that the medical/pharmaceutical industries have the cure for cancer/HIV/obesity/etc... but choose to withhold it because they profit from continuing to support 'the cancer/HIV/obesity/etc... industry', and that contrails left by airliners are really chemical trails deliberately sprayed in the air by the government in clandestine programs that are not publicized to the general public. In other words, my suspicion is that they are conspiracy theorists relying on junk science.

But I'd be very interested to hear the opinions of members of this forum, especially medical doctors.

Thanks!

 

[ct-fiskerbuzz]

I've noticed that Fiskerbuzz has a plethora of doctors who post here, so I thought I'd ask a question regarding Electromagnetic Fields (E.M.F.s) and health hazards as related to electric vehicles such as the Karma.

If you search E.M.F.s online, you'll quickly stumble upon sites that weigh in on whether or not E.M.F.s created by electric motors in EVs are likely to cause cancer or other health conditions in humans who drive or ride in them. One camp pretty clearly thinks they are a danger. The other camp seems to take a more moderate 'no one knows for certain yet because the technology is relatively new, but current research shows it is very unlikely that electromagnetic fields cause cancer' approach.

My own suspicion is that the people who think drivers of EVs are at higher risk of developing cancer are the same people who believe things like flouridation of water is a Communist plot to take over the world, that the medical/pharmaceutical industries have the cure for cancer/HIV/obesity/etc... but choose to withhold it because they profit from continuing to support 'the cancer/HIV/obesity/etc... industry', and that contrails left by airliners are really chemical trails deliberately sprayed in the air by the government in clandestine programs that are not publicized to the general public. In other words, my suspicion is that they are conspiracy theorists relying on junk science.

But I'd be very interested to hear the opinions of members of this forum, especially medical doctors.

Thanks!

I'm an engineer, not a medical doctor, but: (1) We live in a world full of E- and B-fields all the time. EVs are not going to make any difference -- you might as well worry about the effect of a gasoline-powered vehicle moving you through the earth's magnetic field at 60 mph. (2) Motors of any kind are usually lubricated with oils, and for the last 100 years we've been using carcinogenic oils (in place of things like whale oil). You might as well worry about the effect of a regular vehicle and all that oil. (3) Benzene, which is found in gasoline, is a known carcinogen. Filling your car raises your cancer risk. From this particular point of view, EVs are in fact significantly safer than conventional vehicles.

Of course, the Karma has all the same drawbacks as the conventional vehicle. If you're really worried about automotive health risks, consider a Leaf or Roadster or Model S. But, statistically, you're at more risk taking a shower (you could slip, fall, and kill yourself). (15,900 recorded deaths in 1998, per this web link.)

 

[drliu]

I think the largest health risk by FAR when sitting in the Karma, or any car, is auto accident. And if I'm unfortunate enough to be in one, I'd much rather be in a 5,600-pound cage than a typical 3,000-pound one.

 

[Weird Fishes]

I think the largest health risk by FAR when sitting in the Karma, or any car, is auto accident. And if I'm unfortunate enough to be in one, I'd much rather be in a 5,600-pound cage than a typical 3,000-pound one.

I think I can easily second that, drliu!!