Overview
- The viral post by wellness writer Peter Cowan tying injuries to low‑frequency electromagnetic fields from the Silicon Valley Power substation next to the 49ers’ facility has drawn tens of millions of views.
- UCSF medical physicist Michael Hoff labeled the claim “very, very crackpot,” noting Cowan’s roughly 8.5–9.0 milligauss reading is tiny next to Earth’s 250–650 mG field, while UC Davis’ Jerrold Bushberg said the proposed mechanisms lack support at such exposures.
- UC Berkeley researcher Joel Moskowitz said limited studies suggest potential low‑level EMF risks but acknowledged the theory is not the most likely explanation for the team’s injuries.
- The substation has operated at the site since 1986, predating the team’s move there, and neither the 49ers nor the City of Santa Clara provided comment or public exposure measurements.
- Players and agents are discussing the claim—Kendrick Bourne joked about “that power plant” and a Washington Post agent survey found roughly one‑third had heard client concerns—while independent data show a heavy injury toll this season and since 2016, including George Kittle’s Achilles tear before the Seahawks game.