A Beijing community of about 3,500 households is protesting against the installation of a electricity transformer they say will put them at risk of radiation exposure.

The developer of Longzeyuan, in Changping district, plans to install the transformer near the recreation center to solve electricity supply problems in the 460,000 sq m community.

However, the local urban administration department ordered a stop to installation work on Nov 25 because the developer, Beijing Jiahong Property Development Company, did not have a construction permit.

Wang Zhongqiu, a middle-aged resident, said many of his neighbors were concerned about the health risks if the installation goes ahead. Electricity experts told the community that transformers were usually installed in basements, Wang said.

"We agree to the installation of the transformer but the key problem is that transformers are usually installed underground to reduce the risk of radiation exposure," Wang said.

"If the transformer is installed above ground, it must be cheaper than underground."

Ma Hui, a press officer from the Chaoyang heating supplier, said radiation from transformers was a common concern for many residents.

The developer should help residents overcome their fears by circulating studies about the health impact of transformers, he said.

"To be honest, we can't say there is no radiation from transformers but according to our official investigation, a transformer doesn't emit more radiation than a cell phone does," Ma said.

According to Jinhua Daily, experts said whether the transformer would harm the residents' health depends on how much radiation is emitted.

A spokesman surnamed Song from Beijing Jiahong Property Development Company said it planned to install the 630-kilowatt transformer near the recreation club in July and had received permission from the local electricity supplier.

"The noise and radiation are under the legal limit. There are other facilities in the basement and so we selected another location to install the transformer." Song told the Beijing Times.

Wang said that the transformer was to be installed in a 1.5-m deep hole in an alleyway next to the recreation center.

He said several residents had secretly filled up the hole at night, but that workers had dug the hole again in the morning.

The homeowners complained to the local urban administration department that the developer did not have the permission of residents to build the hole.

"The ground where the hole was dug for the transformer belongs to all the owners. The developers should have asked for our permission first," Wang said.

Urban administration department officers ordered work should be stopped.

The local urban administration department refused to comment on whether the developer would be given permission to install the transformer in the community.

(China Daily 12/02/2009 page26)