The Role of Excess Charge Mitigation in Electromagnetic Hygiene: An Integrative review

Abstract

The Role of Excess Charge Mitigation in Electromagnetic Hygiene: An Integrative review Jamieson IA, Bell JNB, Holdstock P. The Role of Excess Charge Mitigation in Electromagnetic Hygiene: An Integrative review. Biomedical Journal. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100801. Abstract The electromagnetic characteristics of many environments have changed significantly in recent decades. This is in large part due to the increased presence of equipment that emits electromagnetic radiation and materials that may often readily gain excess charge. The presence of excess charge can often increase risk of infection from pathogens, and likelihood of individuals experiencing compromised performance, respiratory problems and other adverse health issues from increased uptake of particulate matter. It is proposed that adopting improved electromagnetic hygiene measures, including optimized humidity levels, to reduce the presence of inappropriate levels of electric charge can help reduce the likelihood of ill health, infection and poor performance arising from contaminant inhalation and deposition, plus reduce the likelihood of medical devices and other electronic devices getting damaged and/or having their data compromised. It is suggested that such measures should be more widely adopted within clinical practice guidelines and water, sanitation and hygiene programs. Highlights Electric fields can increase localized deposition of pathogens. High charge of either polarity increases contaminant deposition. 40-60% relative humidity reduces likelihood of infection. Proper specification of materials reduces infection risks. Electromagnetic hygiene can reduce risk of infection. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

The review proposes that excess electric charge and electric fields can increase localized deposition of pathogens/contaminants and may increase infection risk and other adverse outcomes via increased particulate uptake. It suggests that electromagnetic hygiene measures (including maintaining 40–60% relative humidity and appropriate material specification) could reduce infection likelihood and reduce risk of device damage or data compromise.

Outcomes measured

• infection risk from pathogens
• pathogen/contaminant deposition
• respiratory problems
• compromised performance
• adverse health issues from particulate matter uptake
• damage to medical/electronic devices
• data compromise in electronic devices

Limitations

• Integrative review; specific study designs, populations, and quantitative effect estimates are not described in the provided abstract.
• Exposure metrics (e.g., field strengths, charge levels) and measurement methods are not provided in the abstract.
• Causal claims and strength of evidence cannot be evaluated from the abstract alone.

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.2)
  Mentions clinical practice guidelines and hygiene programs, but no explicit WHO/ICNIRP reference in abstract.

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    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "environmental electric charge / electric fields (electromagnetic hygiene context)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "infection risk from pathogens",
        "pathogen/contaminant deposition",
        "respiratory problems",
        "compromised performance",
        "adverse health issues from particulate matter uptake",
        "damage to medical/electronic devices",
        "data compromise in electronic devices"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The review proposes that excess electric charge and electric fields can increase localized deposition of pathogens/contaminants and may increase infection risk and other adverse outcomes via increased particulate uptake. It suggests that electromagnetic hygiene measures (including maintaining 40–60% relative humidity and appropriate material specification) could reduce infection likelihood and reduce risk of device damage or data compromise.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Integrative review; specific study designs, populations, and quantitative effect estimates are not described in the provided abstract.",
        "Exposure metrics (e.g., field strengths, charge levels) and measurement methods are not provided in the abstract.",
        "Causal claims and strength of evidence cannot be evaluated from the abstract alone."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.61999999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic hygiene",
        "excess charge",
        "electric fields",
        "humidity",
        "relative humidity",
        "pathogen deposition",
        "contaminant deposition",
        "infection risk",
        "particulate matter",
        "materials specification",
        "medical devices",
        "data compromise"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Mentions clinical practice guidelines and hygiene programs, but no explicit WHO/ICNIRP reference in abstract."
        }
    ]
}

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