Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields Exposure: Survey of Recent Findings

Abstract

Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields Exposure: Survey of Recent Findings Bonato M, Chiaramello E, Parazzini M, Gajšek P, Ravazzani P. Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields Exposure: Survey of Recent Findings. IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology, doi: 10.1109/JERM.2023.3268555. Abstract Extremely Low Frequency Electric (ELF-EF) and Magnetic Field (ELF-MF) exposure is caused by different types of sources, from those related to the production, transmission, and distribution of electric currents, to technologies of common use, such as domestic appliances or electric transportation. Establishing the levels of exposure for general public is a fundamental step in the health risk management process but could be challenging due to differences in the approaches used in different studies. The goal of this study is to present an overview of the last years research efforts (from 2015 to nowadays) about ELF-EF and MF exposure in everyday environments, considering different sources and different approaches used to assess the exposure. All ELF-EMF exposure levels were found to be below the ICNIRP guidelines for general public exposure. The higher MF levels were measured in apartments very close to built-in power transformers. Household electrical devices showed high levels of MF exposure in their proximity, but the duration of such exposure is extremely limited. Conclusion The observed ranges of exposure levels to ELF-EMF were coherent with the values observed in [9] about the exposure levels of general public in European countries, and all the mea- sured levels of exposure were below the ICNIRP guidelines for general public exposure [29]. Furthermore, even if the validity of the attention level of long-term time-average exposures of 0.3–0.4 μT is still deeply debated, the studies collected about personal exposure measurements showed always GM values lower than 0.4 μT. As observed in [9], higher MF exposure levels have been measured in apartments closed to built-in power transformers, and the major part of exposure to ELF and IF EMF originates from electric devices, but the duration of such exposure is extremely limited. In [16] the authors classified the exposure of European pop- ulation to ELF-EMFs in three main classes, i.e., (i) intermittent variable partial body exposure; (ii) continuous elevated level whole body (WB) exposure and (iii) continuous low level background exposure. This classification can be assumed to be still valid considering the findings of the studies analyzed in this work. Even with the advent of new technologies, it is still possible to classify the exposure scenarios in non-spatially uniform ELF-MF, due to sources relatively close to the exposed subject, and spatially uniform ELF-MF with high or low amplitude, depending on the distance from the sources. This type of classification, combined with the information arising from new studies focusing on ELF-EMF biological effects [85] will be useful for achieving an effective and reliable estimation of the potential health impact of exposure to ELF-EMF in incoming exposure scenarios. Future studies should be even more focused on assessing ELF-EMF exposure due to the new emerging technologies, such as electric transportation and new energy distribution systems. ieeexplore.ieee.org

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This survey (2015 to present) reports that all reviewed/measured ELF-EF and ELF-MF exposure levels in everyday environments were below ICNIRP guidelines for general public exposure. Higher magnetic-field levels were measured in apartments very close to built-in power transformers, and household electrical devices can produce high MF levels in close proximity but typically for very limited durations; personal exposure studies reported GM values always below 0.4 µT.

Outcomes measured

• ELF electric field exposure levels
• ELF magnetic field exposure levels
• Comparison of measured exposure levels to ICNIRP general public guidelines
• Personal exposure measurement geometric mean (GM) levels vs 0.4 µT attention level (debated)

Limitations

• Survey/review; methods and approaches differ across included studies, making exposure level comparisons challenging
• No sample size or systematic review methods described in the provided abstract
• Focus is on exposure assessment levels rather than direct health outcomes

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.78)
  Findings are framed against ICNIRP general public exposure guidelines.
• occupational-exposure (0.2)
  Mentions sources related to production/transmission/distribution of electric currents, though the focus is general public exposure.

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "production/transmission/distribution of electric currents; domestic appliances; electric transportation; built-in power transformers",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "general public (everyday environments; European population referenced)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "ELF electric field exposure levels",
        "ELF magnetic field exposure levels",
        "Comparison of measured exposure levels to ICNIRP general public guidelines",
        "Personal exposure measurement geometric mean (GM) levels vs 0.4 µT attention level (debated)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This survey (2015 to present) reports that all reviewed/measured ELF-EF and ELF-MF exposure levels in everyday environments were below ICNIRP guidelines for general public exposure. Higher magnetic-field levels were measured in apartments very close to built-in power transformers, and household electrical devices can produce high MF levels in close proximity but typically for very limited durations; personal exposure studies reported GM values always below 0.4 µT.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Survey/review; methods and approaches differ across included studies, making exposure level comparisons challenging",
        "No sample size or systematic review methods described in the provided abstract",
        "Focus is on exposure assessment levels rather than direct health outcomes"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low frequency",
        "ELF-EF",
        "ELF-MF",
        "electric field",
        "magnetic field",
        "exposure assessment",
        "everyday environments",
        "household appliances",
        "power transformers",
        "electric transportation",
        "ICNIRP guidelines",
        "personal exposure",
        "Europe"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
            "reason": "Findings are framed against ICNIRP general public exposure guidelines."
        },
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Mentions sources related to production/transmission/distribution of electric currents, though the focus is general public exposure."
        }
    ]
}

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.