49ers GM John Lynch shuts down electrical substation injury theory: 'Big nothing burger’

As the San Francisco 49ers fought through another injury-riddled season, a new theory emerged that argued they weren't simply the victims of bad luck.

On social media, some claimed an electrical substation located right next to Levi's Stadium and the 49ers' practice field was producing enough electromagnetic forces to weaken tendons and ligaments, raising risk of injury.

While players had mixed opinions on the theory and many experts quickly poured cold water on it, 49ers GM John Lynch took it seriously enough to look into the possibility.

Here's what Lynch had to say about the theory after the team hired an investigator. 

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John Lynch shuts down electrical substation injury theory

Lynch told reporters at the annual NFL meetings that the 49ers hired an independent scientist to examine a possible link between the substation and a higher rate injuries, but he said the findings revealed it was "a big nothing burger."

"We're in a safe place of work. It's a normal place of work. It's a normal gym. We are safe, we're healthy, and we feel really good about that," Lynch added.

While many were quick to debunk the possibility of a connection when the theory first went viral in January, Lynch said he wanted to confirm there was no elevated risk for the sake of his players and staff.

"That was important to us, not just to turn a blind eye, but to look into it because it's our players' wellness," Lynch said. "It's not only our players' wellness, it's coaches, it's staff, all that. And it's encouraging."

According to Lynch, the scientist used "lab-grade equipment" to determine that the substation was 400 times below the kind of electromagnetic output that would be required to call the area around Levi's Stadium an unsafe work environment. The scientist also found that the electromagnetic output was no different than what a person would experience at an ordinary gym. 

Here's what you need to know about the electrical substation theory, which took the internet by storm in January.

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49ers electrical substation injury conspiracy theory

While he wasn't the first to suggest a link, a man named Peter Cowan made the theory go viral in January when he tweeted a claim that "low-frequency electromagnetic fields can degrade collagen, weaken tendons, and cause soft-tissue damage."

The 49ers' facility is situated right next to Silicon Valley Power Mission Substation, and the theory argues that the electromagnetic fields being produced by the substation are making 49ers players more susceptible to injury. 

Once the theory went viral, many scientists debunked the idea that the electromagnetic output of the substation could have any impact on players' bodies. 

There are two different types of radiation, Northwestern radiology professor Gayle Woloschak told SFGate: ionizing and non-ionizing. While ionizing is dangerous and is found in nuclear reactors, non-ionizing radiation surrounds people just about all of the time and is what could be emitted from an electrical substation. 

"In the huge number of studies that have tried to look at the effects of non-ionizing radiation on cells, there’s been no reported damage to DNA, proteins or other molecules that’s been identified," Wolschak said.

According to Lynch, the scientist hired by the 49ers came to the same conclusion. 

MORE: Full details of 49ers electrical substation theory

What is electrical substation?

An electrical substation is intended to "convert electricity into different voltages" and transmit it into homes, businesses and neighborhoods as needed, according to National Grid.

The Silicon Valley Power Mission Substation has long been situated next to the 49ers' practice facility, which has been in Santa Clara since 1988 despite Levi's Stadium not opening until 2014. The substation was expanded in 2014.