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Hybrid Risk

25943 Views 42 Replies 28 Participants Last post by  jennypenny
We are all well aware that living near power lines has adverse health effects. When our bodies do not like being exposed to high levels of static magnetic fields or high voltage power lines.

Both of these are present in all hybrid cars. Two strong permanent magnet motor/generators, a high voltage AC/DC inverter and a high voltage DC power line (usually traveling directly under the drivers seat).

Although the voltage in the high voltage line is no where near the 115kV of utility power lines, it is still extremely close and carries significant amperage.

The CT200h shares the same power train as a Prius, which has had wide criticisms and noticed health effects. Some drivers report feeling sick, dizzy or sleepy. One driver even fallen asleep at the wheel.

- When I drive a Prius I do not feel the same as when I drive a non hybrid car. It really does feel as if there is a good amount of electricity around me. -

Levels inside the Prius have been measured by me at 2-4mG right under my bum, sitting on the drivers seat. During braking, levels reached 8mG in the passenger seat. The rear right seat measured as high as 24mG.

Anything above 2mG is a health hazard. At 4mG you're likely to get headaches and show some form of symptom (headache, loss of memory, tiredness). At 12mG your bodies own ability to inhibit cancer through melatonin is reduced.

I fear that Lexus did not increase the shielding around the AC/DC inverter, the high voltage cabling or the battery pack.

Before I buy, I will be testing this car for the amount of radiation present in the cabin during my test drive.
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Probably an Audi/ Merc/ BMW dealer. Once they've caught up with Toyota's 10 year lead, and made their own viable hybrids rather than their current feeble attempts, the posts will stop.
I've been driving a prius since 2005 and I am willing to bet I'm far healthier than you.

Oh wait, you don't like my anecdotal statement on the internet with no real data to back it up? Read your own post again...
i'm sure he works as a salesman for audi!
ha ha ha :d
I bought this car less than a month ago and it absolutely makes me nauseous! It happens when I am driving and when I am a passenger. It seems to me that it is happening when the brakes are applied. I've been dealing with the nausea b/c I don't have a choice, you can't return the thing.. but today, I got out of my car and actually vomited in the parking deck... it was a lovely sight for all involved, I'm sure.... I'm still trying to get in touch with the manager of the dealership, but I know there isn't much they are going to be able to do without me taking a huge hit in the wallet... what a huge disappointment :(
What fun would the internet be without 1-post users on every message board to post inflammatory comments, that while utterly possible, may also neglect to mention the tequila shots/chemotherapy/bulemia nervosa that may have also played a role in the anecdotal story that may or may not have happened in an unknown location?

Did I mention my pet shark that got in trouble with animal control? Helicopter Shark - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It must have been those darned gamma rays from the Japan reactor radiation in my hybrid car interacting with the electromagnetic pulsar sonar capacitors that made Sharkey grow so big and since he's also sentient, his secret longing to fly makes him lash out in rage at anything in flight.
Another unhappy salesman working for Audi or another company!:D
Maybe it's that new car smell. Ever had a new car before?
My mum once took a striped hat back to the store because she said it made her feel sick. That makes as much sense as the subject of this thread. Here in the UK nutters are fortunately in short supply.......at least as Lexus owners as they typically cant afford them
I'm willing to bet big oil would be behind any study's stating hybrids cause cancer.It would be one way to keep us dependent on them.
Maybe it's that new car smell. Ever had a new car before?
Winner of the "Why are you posting such a rational and well-thought-out explanation on the internet?" award. Seriously though, that wouldn't surprise me at all-- as much as I love that new car smell, I seem to recall hearing it's worse than secondhand smoke for you to breathe? I know when my wife was pregnant it def. would have made her ill just by being so strong.
Well reading the whole thread, only shows that there is lack of common sense on all sides of the argument. Instead of belittling people, why not make a constructive argument? Presumably the Mythbuster's article demonstrates that EMF fields (particularly magnetic fields measured in milliGauss) are not much higher in hybrids than in A conventional vehicle they measured, the Cobalt. But the article is also not comprehensive, as it does not measure Electric Fields, which are are also important to consider, as they do have proven health side effects and are regulated by governments. That article also automatically dismisses the argument that AC mag/elec fields (from alternating currents) are NOT more harmful, than DC. Well one has to look at some studies, to determine whether that is fact. There is certainly evidence to suggest that AC mag/elec fields are harmful, but it does depend on many factors like intensity, duration, flux, size of fields and etc. Some studies are listed in linked document below.

http://www.magdahavas.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/04_Havas_London-Rev.pdf

Plus some people are more sensitive than others to EMFs, this has been shown to be so, and quite a few independent studies have demonstrated this. Although some studies dismissed this notion, most of them were financed by industry. You can Google this to find out more.

So in fairness speaking, we can't undeniably state that EMF fields have 0 effect on human biological systems, they do. But to what extent, and to which people, and how, it's yet unclear. If you strongly feel sick in this particular vehicle, and you have isolated the causing factor to be the vehicle and not anything else then by all means do not drive this/such vehicles. Remember to isolate the factors since your cellphone could cause you to feel strange, if it's transmitting regularly voice/3G/4G, because of the faraday cage effect, some of radio waves will bounce inside the vehicle and may also affect you. Also get some measuring equipment, for AC/DC electric/magnetic fields and preferably 3axis, and that can do a spectrum from hz to Ghz. And learn some basic physics maybe? :) So if you are sensitive, you can measure and see if it's a causing factor.
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Well, I recently had a long drive from Atlnata, GA to DEstin, FL, about 5 hrs, a round trip. I was with my girlfriend. Neither of us noticed any effects at all. Neither of us got groggy or anything. I think its a bunch of nonsense about ill effects, same for power lines. And using cell phones, etc.
Well, I recently had a long drive from Atlnata, GA to DEstin, FL, about 5 hrs, a round trip. I was with my girlfriend. Neither of us noticed any effects at all. Neither of us got groggy or anything. I think its a bunch of nonsense about ill effects, same for power lines. And using cell phones, etc.
But obviously you have the super duper metal head shield, as shown in your avatar, that is far superior to the tin foil hat that most of us wear for protection while driving our killer cars. You probably also ground yourself with a chain of paper clips, which I have found to be extremely effective, especially in the case of unintended acceleration.
so if you're in your CT and it's storming and lightning strikes close, are you going to get sick faster? Or just get sleepier? I'm confused... ;)
This myth seems to pop up from time to time. Toyota/Lexus have built over 5,000,000 hybrids. You would think someone would be alert to a problem, if there was one. But watch out - I was recently told not to sit in my CT200 going through a car wash or I would be electrocuted.
But watch out - I was recently told not to sit in my CT200 going through a car wash or I would be electrocuted.
hahaha...that's funny.
funny how naive people are with technology.

Lexus / toyota hybrid system are over engineered.

lots of people worry about electrocution. Electric fields and all.

in fact, you should be more worried about you using your phone too long (radiation for more than 8 hours a day) than the car being with you for 1 to 2 hours..
I glow in the dark. Should I see my Lexus dealer?
I glow in the dark.QUOTE]

that would be awesome!
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