Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Discussion of Exposure Evaluation Associated with Extremely Low Frequency-magnetic Field in the Case of Portable Hand-held Fans

휴대용 손 선풍기의 극저주파 자기장 발생 수준 평가와 쟁점 고찰

  • Park, Dong-Uk (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Yi, Seongjin (Asian Citizen's Center for Environment and Health) ;
  • Kim, So-Youn (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Bae, Seo-Youn (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Choi, Sangjun (Department of Occupational Health, Daegu Catholic University) ;
  • Kim, Won (Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health) ;
  • Min, Sung Hyon (Seoul Singye Elementary School) ;
  • Park, Jihoon (Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Ahn, Jongju (Graduate School of Health & Welfare, Dankook University)
  • 박동욱 (한국방송통신대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 이성진 (환경보건시민센터) ;
  • 김소연 (한국방송통신대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 배서연 (한국방송통신대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 최상준 (대구가톨릭대학교 산업보건학과) ;
  • 김원 (노동환경건강연구소) ;
  • 민승현 (서울신계초등학교) ;
  • 박지훈 (서울대학교 보건환경연구소) ;
  • 안종주 (단국대학교)
  • Received : 2018.10.01
  • Accepted : 2018.10.20
  • Published : 2018.10.28
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Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to report the level of extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF) emitted by portable hand-held fans (HHF) and to discuss the methodologies for determining the health risk of ELF-MF for HHF products. Method: ELF-MF was monitored at eight locations by distances in the vicinity of HHFs. A total of 13 HHF brands on the market were randomly selected. A portable ELF-MF monitor MDEX II was used to measure the ELF-MF level in the range of 40-800 Hz with a resolution of $0.01{\mu}T$. This study also examined the frequency results of a total of 45 HHF products investigated by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (KMSICT). Results: ELF-MF higher than $0.3{\mu}T$ was found to be emitted at a distance of less than 20 cm from 12 HHF. ELF-MF emitted from four products was found to exceed the reference level ($83.3{\mu}T$ based on 60 Hz) recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). KMSIT reported that the principle frequency emitted from the HHFs ranged from 54 Hz to 284 kHz, without the level of LEF-MF. Unscientifically, the KMSICT used the reference level by ICNIRP as the chronic level and concluded that all HHFs are safe with a basis of 1.2-36.0% less than the reference level. Conclusion: The HHF emitted much higher levels of ELF-MF than $0.3-0.4{\mu}T$, which is regarded as the reference level for childhood leukemia. The risk of HHF should be examined in terms of whether they can be used by the general public, including children and pregnant woman.

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