• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2014

In this paper, a new and simple method is proposed to quickly estimate the induced electric field in the human child exposed to a 100 kHz-10 MHz magnetic field, for the sake of electromagnetic field (EMF) safety assessment. The quasi-static finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to calculate the induced electric fields in high resolution 3D human child models with various body size parameters, in order to derive the correction factor for the estimation equation. The calculations are repeated for various frequencies and incident angles of the magnetic field. Based on these calculation results, a new and simple estimation equation for the 99th percentile value of the body electric field is derived that depends on the body size parameters, and the incident magnetic field. The estimation errors were equal to or less than 5.1%, for all cases considered.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.04b
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• pp.2-4
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• 2007

대다수 국민들이 많은 불안감을 갖고 있는 극저주파전자계(ELF EMF)의 건강영향에 대한 논쟁배경, 전자파와 전자계의 특성 구분, 국민의 전자계에 대한 인식도 조사, 전력시설 건설반대 민원현황을 분석한다. 또한 전자계 건강영향 동물실험 결과, 국내 전력시설별 전자계의 노출현황 둥을 분석하고, 세계보건기구(WHO)의 국제권고기준에 따라 국내 전력시설의 전자계 안전성에 대하여 논하고자 한다.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.97-129
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• 2008

We are living in the time of high probability of technological risk due to increased rate of technology development and diffusion of new technologies. Resolving uncertainties, the basic attribution of risk, by accumulating knowledge over the risk factors of certain technology is critical to management of technological risk. In many cases of technological risks, high uncertainty of knowledge is commonly mentioned reason for public controversies on risk management. However, the type of technological risk with low social agreement and low uncertainty of knowledge, the main reason for public controversy is absence of social agreement. Public debates on the risks of mobile phones electromagnetic fields(EMF) to human health comes under this category. The knowledge uncertainty on human health effect of mobile phones EMF has been lowered increasingly by accumulating enormous volume of knowledge though scientists have not reached a final conclusion whether it pose a risk to the physical and mental health of the general population or not. In contrast with civil organizations calling for precautionary approach based regulation, the mobile phone industry is cling to the position of no-regulation-needed by arguing no clear evidence to prove health risks of mobile phone EMF has found. In Korea, government set exposure standards based on a measurement called the 'specific absorption rate'(SAR) and require the mobile phone industry to open SAR information to the public by their own decision. From the view of pro-regulation side based on precautionary approach, technology risk managament of mobile phones EMF in Korea is highly limited and formalized one with limited measuring of SAR on head part only and problematic self-regulated opening of information about SAR to the public. As far as the government keeps having priority on protecting interest of mobile phone industry over precautionary regulation of mobile phones EMF, the disagreement between civil organizations and the government will not resolved. The risk of mobile phones EMF to human health have high probability of being underestimated in the rate and damage of risk than objectively estimated ones due to familiarity of mobile phone technology. And this can be the cause of destructive social dispute or devastating disaster. To prevent such disastrous results, technology risk management, which integrating the goals of safety with economic growth in public policy and designing and promoting risk communication, is required.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.59-67
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• 2008

Due to the fast increase in cellular phone users, public interest on health effect of electromagnetic fields(EMFs) by cellular phonos is gradually increasing. Some EHS(electromagnetic hypersensitivity) patients complain of psycho-neurophysiological symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, memory loss resulting from RF radiation by CDMA cellular phones. However, EHS is difficult to diagnose and depends on the individual's subjective judgement. And we don't know clearly if the cause of EHS is uneasiness or real exposure. There have been various EHS volunteer studies on heart rate, blood pressure and subjective symptoms using GSM phones. But there are few studies on experimental case-control study investigating physiological parameters, subjective symptoms, and perception of EMFs. In this study, two volunteer groups of 17 self-declared EHS and 19 controls were exposed to both sham and real RF exposure by CDMA cellular phones for half an hour each. We investigated not only the physiological parameters such as heart rates, respiration rates and HRVs(hear rate variability), but also the perception of EMFs and subjective symptoms. As the results, EMF exposure did not have any effects on the subjective symptoms or physiological parameters for both groups. For the EMF perception, there was no evidence that EHS group perceived the EMFs correctly than the control group.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.509-517
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the patterns of exposure of welders to strong magnetic fields for extended periods of time on the basis of their daily activities as recorded in a logbook. Methods: Male workers whose main job is welding, specifically seven welders occupied with gas tungsten arc welding(GTAW), two performing shielded metal arc welding(SMAW), and ten engaged in gas metal arc welding(GMAW), were measured in terms of the degree to which they were exposed to extremely low frequency(ELF) magnetic fields over 24 hours by using an electromagnetic field meter(EMF meter), as well as based on a daily activity log. Results: The welders were exposed to $1.25{\pm}4.95{\mu}T$ of magnetic field per day on average. For those who spent more than half a day-735.26 minutes, or 51.1% of the day-at work, the figure averages $3.88{\pm}8.85{\mu}T$ with a maximum value of $221.28{\mu}T$. The subject welders spent $338.14{\pm}154.95$ minutes per day at home. During their stays at home, they were exposed to an average of $0.17{\pm}0.06{\mu}T$ with a maximum value of $3.50{\mu}T$. The maximum exposure of $221.28{\mu}T$ occurred when welders performed GMAW. The average exposure reached its highest at $17.71{\pm}6.96{\mu}T$ when conducting SMAW. Magnetic field exposure also depends upon posture: welders who sat while welding were exposed five times more than those who stood during work, and this difference is statistically significant. As for the relationship between distance from the welding power supply and maximum magnetic field exposure, maximum magnetic field exposure decreases as the distance increases. The average magnetic field exposure, in the meantime, showed no significant difference depending on distance. Conclusions: The following were observed through this study: 1) welders, while conducting jobs, are exposed to magnetic fields not only from the welding machine, but also from the surrounding base material due to the current flowing between the welding machine and base material, meaning that they are continuously exposed to a magnetic field; and 2) welders are more exposed to magnetic fields while they sit at a job compared to when they stand up.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2961-2966
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• 2012

Extremely low frequency electro magnetic fields (EMFs) have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. An increased number of chromosomal alterations in peripheral lymphocytes are correlated with elevated incidence of cancer. The aim of the present study was to assess occupationally induced chromosomal damage in EMF workers exposed to low levels of radiation. We used conventional metaphase chromosome aberration (CA) analysis and the micronucleus (MN) assay as biological indicators of non ionizing radiation exposure. In the present study totally 70 subjects were selected including 50 exposed and 20 controls. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants and the study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the approval of the local ethical committee. A higher degree of CA and MN was observed in exposed subjects compared to controls, the frequency of CA being significantly enhanced with long years of exposure (P<0.05). Moreover increase in CA and MN with age was noted in both exposed subjects and controls, but was significantly greater in the former. The results of this study demonstrated that a significant induction of cytogenetic damage in peripheral lymphocytes of workers occupationally exposed to EMFs in electric transformer and distribution stations. In conclusion, our findings suggest that EMFs possess genotoxic capability, as measured by CA and MN assays; CA analysis appeared more sensitive than other cytogenetic end-points. It can be concluded that chronic occupational exposure to EMFs may lead to an increased risk of genetic damage among electrical workers.