• Title/Summary/Keyword: electromagnetic exposure

Search Result 167, Processing Time 0.027 seconds

Testing of Common Electromagnetic Environments for Risk of Interference with Cardiac Pacemaker Function

  • Tiikkaja, Maria;Aro, Aapo L.;Alanko, Tommi;Lindholm, Harri;Sistonen, Heli;Hartikainen, Juha E.K.;Toivonen, Lauri;Juutilainen, Jukka;Hietanen, Maila
    • Safety and Health at Work
    • /
    • v.4 no.3
    • /
    • pp.156-159
    • /
    • 2013
  • Background: Cardiac pacemakers are known to be susceptible to strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This in vivo study investigated occurrence of electromagnetic interference with pacemakers caused by common environmental sources of EMFs. Methods: Eleven volunteers with a pacemaker were exposed to EMFs produced by two mobile phone base stations, an electrically powered commuter train, and an overhead high voltage transmission lines. All the pacemakers were programmed in normal clinically selected settings with bipolar sensing and pacing configurations. Results: None of the pacemakers experienced interference in any of these exposure situations. However, often it is not clear whether or not strong EMFs exist in various work environments, and hence an individual risk assessment is needed. Conclusions: Modern pacemakers are well shielded against external EMFs, and workers with a pacemaker can most often return to their previous work after having a pacemaker implanted. However, an appropriate risk assessment is still necessary after the implantation of a pacemaker, a change of its generator, or major modification of its programming settings.

The Level of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields Strength from VDT According to the Arrangement of Working Space VDT (영상표시단말장치의 작업공간 배열에 따른 전자파 폭로 정도)

  • Han, Sangil;Lee, Sehoon
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
    • /
    • v.8 no.1
    • /
    • pp.146-154
    • /
    • 1998
  • This study was designed to investigate the workers' exposure level to electromagnetic field(EMF) in accordance with the VDT arrangement in the work place and distance from VDT. Author compared the exposure strength of EMF in line group(workers exposed to EMF from both front and back side) and in shielding group(workers exposed to EMF exclusively from front side). The levels of EMF at 30cm and 50cm from front side and at 30cm from back side of VDT were also measured. The result were as follows: 1. Mean distance between a monitor and a worker in shielding group ($47.7{\pm}8.7cm$) significantly longer than that in line group($44.3{\pm}7.2cm$). Strength of EMF in shielding group [$1.3{\pm}0.7V/m$ (electric field) and $18.2{\pm}11.5mA/m$ (magnetic field) were lower than in line group [$1.4{\pm}0.6V/m$ and $26.6{\pm}11.6mA/m$, respectively] at the workers' position. 2. The strength of EMF was decreased with the distance from VDT. The strength at 70cm from VDT was nearly the same as the background strength in the ordinary office rooms. 3. Working distance from 9 inch monitor was significantly shorter than that from 14 inch and wider sized monitors. 4. The strength of EMF in extremely low frequency spectrum of color monitors was higher then that of black and white monitor. 5. Metal coated filters significantly decreased the electric field strength of EMF when earth line was connected. Metallic shield was effectively decreased the EMF strength from VDT, but wooden shield was not. From the above results, line type arrangement of VDT in the work place using metallic shield at the back side of VDT, and metal coated filter to monitor with application of earth line were recommended. It is also recommended to maintain workers position to be 60cm or more distance from monitor and 140cm or more between VDTs for minimizing workers' exposure to EMF.

  • PDF

Analysis of Human Exposure for Wireless Devices Near War-Fighter (전투원 신체 주변 통신기기의 인체 노출량 분석)

  • Seo, Min-Gyeong;Choi, Jeung-Won;Ko, Jong Hwan;Lee, Hyunsung;Park, Juman;Pack, Jeong-Ki
    • The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
    • /
    • v.24 no.1
    • /
    • pp.106-112
    • /
    • 2013
  • In this paper, human exposure of wireless devices was analyzed for various positions of the transmitter. The scenario for the position of the transmitting antenna was decided after discussion with ADD(Agency for Defense Development), and Korean male phantom model developed by ETRI were used to conduct simulations. The SAR values were analyzed by changing the position of the transmitter, and compared with Korean EMF regulations and ICNIRP guidelines. Additionally, human exposure was also investigated for two typical postures which can be posed by war-fighter.

Measurement and Personal Exposure Assessment of Extremely Low Frequency(ELF) Electromagnetic Fields(EMF) (극저주파 영역에서의 전자파 노출에 관한 조사연구)

  • 김윤신;김수연;박지연;최원욱
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
    • /
    • v.23 no.1
    • /
    • pp.55-61
    • /
    • 1997
  • This study was executed for the purpose of investigation of the EMFs exposures of personal and electronic environment. This study examines ELF-EMFs of electric appliances, subways and occupational and non-occupational human exposures, using EMDEX II (for 40 - 800Hz, Enertech Consultant, Inc.), from October 1995 to March 1996. Among the electric appliances examined, a massage unit showed the highest mean value of 247.07 $\mu$T, followed by an electric blanket of 5.24 $\mu$T. Indoor levels of EMF in subways exceerlcd 0.2 $\mu$T of the Swedish Guideline. The mean personal exposure levels of occupational group were 0.18 $\mu$T, while the personal EMF level of non-occupational group were 0.07 $\mu$T. Occupational group were exposed more highly while at work. However, the EMF levels during nonwork and sleep exposures between occuptional group and nonoccupational group were about the same. Estimates of time-intergrated exposure indicated that utility-specipic job classifications received about one-half or more of their total exposure on the job. Finally, this study would provide significant data for future research for exposure to magnetic fields, and more detailed study and research are necessary.

  • PDF

Electromagnetic energy as an impact factor on life processes of a biological object of a plant origin

  • Radko, I.;Nalyvaiko, V.;Okushko, O.
    • The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
    • /
    • v.6 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-8
    • /
    • 2020
  • The foremost problem in the agricultural industry in Ukraine is the issue of improving its energy resources efficiency. The existence of this problem is related to the substantial technological inferiority of the industry to those present in the developed countries, especially in terms of creation of no-waste production technologies of agricultural products. The direct effect on the solving of this issue has the necessity to ensure minimal energy costs during treatment of plant objects. This article presents the research results on the effect of electromagnetic energy on activation of plants development. It was found that each such object has its own individual energy resource and that forceful increase of the latter has specific maximum values and gives rise to the plant development process. At the same time, the implementation of the research results is hindered by some factors, among the most major of which are the following: lack of reliable and complete data on the bioenergy resources of plants, its "natural" chart; unavailability of research on the energy sources interaction processes and its effect on the physiological potential of biological objects, at least at the level of low series, absence of the appropriate electrotechnical equipment, including electromagnetic energy sources.

Review on the Association between Exposure to Extremely Low Frequency-Magnetic Fields (ELF-MF) and Childhood Leukemia (극저주파 자기장의 소아백혈병 발생 위험 고찰)

  • Dong-Uk Park
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
    • /
    • v.49 no.2
    • /
    • pp.57-65
    • /
    • 2023
  • Background: The association between exposure to extremely low frequency-magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and childhood leukemia has been controversial. There is a need to clarify this relationship by summarizing key conclusions from systematic review articles. Objectives: The major aim of this study is to summarize key conclusions from systematic review articles on the association between exposure to ELF-MF and childhood leukemia based on childhood exposure to ELF-MF, proximity from childhood household to high voltage cables, and parental occupational exposure to ELF-MF. Methods: This study was conducted through a brief literature review focusing on systematic, meta-analysis, and pooled analysis methods. We conducted a literature search in PubMed using the key words "ELF-MF" and "childhood leukemia" singly or combined. Results: In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed two manuscripts to conduct pooled analysis and concluded that there is a significant association between exposure to >0.3 μT or 0.4 μT and childhood leukemia. We found a total of four manuscripts for systematic or pool analysis that have been published since the IARC's conclusion. They consistently concluded that there was a significant association between exposure to >0.4 μT and childhood leukemia compared to ELF-MF exposure to below 0.1 μT. The proximity of children's households to high voltage cable lines and occupational exposure by their parents to ELF-MF during certain periods prior to or during pregnancy were inconsistently associated with childhood leukemia. The study found that many EU countries have implemented precautionary policies to prevent potential childhood leukemia due to exposure to ELF-MF. Conclusions: This study recommends implementing a precautionary policy that includes legal exposure limits for ELF-MF to minimize exposure to ELF-MF.

Children's Mobile Phone Use and Dosimetry

  • Lee, Ae-Kyoung;Kwon, Jong-Hwa
    • Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
    • /
    • v.15 no.3
    • /
    • pp.167-172
    • /
    • 2015
  • Research results on possible effects caused by radiofrequency fields in children are limited because most of the studies published so far have focused on adults, rather than children. Mobile phone use is now widespread, even among younger children. If a biological risk due to mobile phone exposure is found, it might be greater in children because their bodies might be more sensitive to radiofrequency energy. The issue of a possible difference in sensitivity between adults and children begins with whether any difference exists physically in terms of electromagnetic absorption. This paper presents a review of recent publications on dosimetric comparisons between children and adults with respect to radiation from mobile phones. The issue of the health effects of mobile phone use is beyond the scope of the present review. Most of the dosimetry research on possible differences in power absorption between children and adults has been based on numerical modeling and analysis. The understanding of the results so far is presented and needed studies are described.

Brief Review on Exposure Characteristics, Monitoring Instruments and Threshold Limit Values for Extremely Low Frequency-Magnetic Field (ELF-MF) (직업성 극저주파 자기장 노출평가와 노출 기준에 대한 쟁점 고찰)

  • Dong-Uk, Park;Seunghee, Lee;Kyung Ehi, Zoh
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
    • /
    • v.32 no.4
    • /
    • pp.381-392
    • /
    • 2022
  • Objectives: Objective of this study is to review briefly exposure characteristics, monitoring instruments and threshold limit values for extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF) methods. This study was undertaken through brief literature review. We performed a literature search in PubMed to identify ELF-MF studies conducted in workplaces. Initial search keywords such as 'extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF)' and 'electromagnetic fields (EMF)' combined or singly. We limited our review to occupational rather than general nonworkplace environmental exposures. Methods: The contents we reviewed: key industry and occupations generating ELF-MF, several direct-reading instruments monitoring ELF-MF and threshold limit values (TLV) preventing health effects may be caused by the exposure to ELF-MF. Results: The industries related to the generation and supply of electricity, electrolytic installations, welding, and induction heating and more were regarded as high ELF-MF exposure industries. All jobs handling or employed performed in power cable lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment are found to be exposed to ELF-MF. Threshold or ceiling limit, 1,000 µT, is established to prevent acute effects of exposure to low-frequency EMFs on the nervous system: the direct stimulation of nerve and muscle tissues and the induction of retinal phosphenes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ELF-MF as possibly carcinogenic to humans chiefly based on epidemiological studies on childhood leukemia. However, a causal relationship between magnetic fields and several types of cancer including childhood leukemia has not been established nor has any other long-term effects. Risk management using precautionary measures, has been initiated by the US and EU to prevent chronic health effects related to ELF-MF exposure in workplaces. Conclusion: This study recommends the implementation of various measures such as theestablishment of occupational exposure limit values for ELF-MF and precautionary principle to prevent potential chronic occupational health effects may be caused by ELF-MF in Korea.

Effects of 60-Hz Time-Varying Electric Fields on DNA Damage and Cell Viability Support Negligible Genotoxicity of the Electric Fields

  • Yoon, Yeo Jun;Li, Gen;Kim, Gyoo Cheon;Lee, Hae June;Song, Kiwon
    • Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
    • /
    • v.15 no.3
    • /
    • pp.134-141
    • /
    • 2015
  • The effect of a 60 Hz time-varying electric field was studied using a facing-electrode device (FED) and a coplanar-electrode device (CED) for further investigation of the genotoxicity of 60 Hz time-varying magnetic field (MF) from preceding research. Neither a single 30-minute exposure to the CED or to the FED had any obvious biological effects such as DNA double strand break (DSB) and apoptosis in cancerous SCC25, and HeLa cells, normal primary fibroblast IMR90 cells, while exposures of 60 Hz time-varying MF led to DNA damage with induced electric fields much smaller than those used in this experiment. Nor did repetitive exposures of three days or a continuous exposure of up to 144 hours with the CED induce any DNA damage or apoptosis in either HeLa or IMR90 cells. These results imply that the solitary electric field produced by time-varying MF is not a major cause of DSBs or apoptosis in cancer or normal cells.