This theory was first aired a year ago following a small-scale study, and was ridiculed by the National Radiological Protection Board, the watchdog on health issues involving radiation and electromagnetic fields.

BBC: Battle lines drawn in pylon debate

Station managers would not wish to push it much higher because that would take it closer to known debris fields and more of the space radiation that can be harmful to the health of astronauts.

BBC: International Space Station in debris scare

The radiation belt, which contains "two concentric rings of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic fields" doesn't affect current astronauts going to and from space because they are moving too fast to be hit by the radiation.

ENGADGET: Space elevator ride may kill humans due to ionizing radiation