Maglev raises health concerns

By Meng Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-11 07:55

A resident walks over a railway line near the Bisenli community. Homeowners have protested about a plan to build a Maglev train line nearby. [Wang Jing / China Daily]

Residents sign petition over radiation from proposed magnetic train

People from more than 300 households have signed a petition opposing the proposed Mentougou subway line, citing potential health risks from the state-of-the-art trains that will run on it.

The line will feature "Maglev" trains. The magnetic levitation system that the trains will use suspends, guides and propels vehicles using magnets and is claimed to be faster, quieter and smoother than traditional trains.

However, some residents along the proposed 20-km route, which will link Shimenying in Mentougou district and Sishousi in Haidian district, fear the trains could give off radiation and be harmful to the health.

Gao Jie, organizer of the petition in the Bisenli community, said as many as 300 households out of the 1,092 families in her community signed the petition after it was started on Saturday.

"The petition will continue until this Friday, because the government is seeking public suggestions by May 15," she said.

"We are not completely against the plan if the government can offer us enough evidence to show that it is safe to run a Maglev train within such a short distance of homes."

Bisenli is on the north side of Tiancun and the Mentougou line is set to be built between the two communities, according to the draft plan published on the website of the China Academy of Railway Science on May 5.

As many as 12 stations will be built along the route, which will largely be built above ground.

Gao said most households in the community have not heard about the proposed subway line. Six other communities will also be affected.

The Mentougou line will run parallel to the existing Beijing Mentougou railway line. Some residents have expressed concern about possible radiation from the new type of train while others have said they are worried about the excessive speeds.

Li Qiaoying, who has lived in the Bisenli community since 2004, is among the 300 residents who has signed the petition.

She lives in one of the buildings immediately next to the line and worries that radiation could damage her family's health in the long term.

"To be honest, at first I welcomed the new plan, believing I could benefit from the more convenient transportation system," she told METRO on Monday.

"But I will never say 'yes' now, even if there is only a tiny chance that the Maglev train may kill me in the long run," .

A 64-year-old man, surnamed Li, said he was confused by the plan to use a Maglev train on the line, believing traditional subway trains were the best option.

"I just don't understand the government. Maglev trains are more expensive and more dangerous. Maybe, they think building a Maglev train is fashionable because, as a metropolitan city, Beijing at least needs to have one," said Li, who lives in Hailan Dongyuan community.

Liu Jingru, an officer from the environmental impact assessment center with the China Academy of Railway Science, said they are welcoming all suggestions and comments from the public.

Liu said the organization is assessing the situation and is not yet sure how much a Maglev train might impact the neighborhood.

"Once we have the test results, we will definitely offer it to the public," she said, adding that the design speed of the Maglev train was only around 100 km per hour and that there was no confirmed schedule for the start of the project.

Gao Yougang, a professor from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and founder of environmental electromagnetism in China, said there is no clear standard of what is a safe distance regarding radiation from a Maglev train.

"In theory, the further away, the better. It is not 100 percent sure that radiation will lead to cancer, but there is a possibility here," Gao told METRO.

He said China has no national laws concerning safe levels of radiation.