The role of the AC component in human perception of AC-DC hybrid electric fields

2022 · Unclear · Moderate evidence

← Research stream

UnclearModerate evidencePaper 887

In a double-blind laboratory study using a psychophysical method based on signal detection theory, detection thresholds for hybrid AC-DC electric fields were significantly lower when AC electric field strength was increased. Very low hybrid field combinations…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

The role of the AC component in human perception of AC-DC hybrid electric fields Kathrin Jankowiak, Andrea Kaifie, Thomas Krampert, Thomas Kraus, Michael Kursawe. The role of the AC component in human perception of AC-DC hybrid electric fields. Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 1;12(1):3391. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-07388-w. Abstract Electric energy is essential to today's society. To cope with global higher demand while minimizing land use, efficient high voltage direct current (HVDC) power lines are planned to be mounted on existing alternating current (AC) structures leading to electric fields (EFs) from both AC and DC transmission lines in hybrid configurations. Due to the close proximity to residential areas, the investigation of human hybrid EF perception and underlying mechanisms will be useful to project permitting. To specify the influence of the AC component on the whole-body detection thresholds of hybrid EFs and to explore the lower bound of human hybrid EF perception, 51 participants with an EF detection ability above average were exposed in a double-blind laboratory study. A psychophysical method based on the signal detection theory was used. Very low EF strength combinations, e.g. 1 kV/m AC combined with 1 kV/m DC, were reliably perceived by at least one participant. Detection thresholds were significantly lower with increased AC EF strengths, underlining the key role of the AC component in the human perception of hybrid EFs. Findings will contribute to the assessment of public reaction to the perception of EFs around hybrid overhead power lines and to their optimal designs. Conclusion Within the current study, we showed that the AC component plays a key role in the human perception of hybrid EFs as increased AC EF strengths lowered detection thresholds of hybrid EFs. Therefore, not only the total EF strength but especially the AC component in a hybrid EF is decisive for estimating hybrid detection thresholds. Focusing on the lower bound of hybrid EF perception, it could be indicated that some people are even able to reliably detect very low hybrid EFs of up to 1 kV/m AC EF combined with 1 kV/m DC EF. This high sensibility, along with the synergistic effect of AC and DC, should be taken into consideration when assessing public reaction to the perception of EFs around hybrid overhead lines. In this context, the effect of environmental factors, such as relative humidity and ion currents, on the perception of low hybrid EFs could be investigated in future studies, as both factors were associated with lower detection thresholds8. Together with these findings, our data will help to prevent unwanted EF perception in nature and contribute to the construction of future hybrid overhead power lines. Open access paper: nature.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionunclear

Population51 participants with an EF detection ability above average

Sample size51

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Human perception/detection thresholds of AC-DC hybrid electric fields
Influence of AC component strength on detection thresholds
Lower bound of detectable hybrid EF combinations

Limitations

Participants were selected for above-average EF detection ability, limiting generalizability to the general population
Exposure duration not stated in the abstract
Environmental factors (e.g., humidity, ion currents) noted as potentially relevant but not controlled/fully addressed in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "power lines (HVDC/HVAC hybrid overhead lines; laboratory exposure)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "51 participants with an EF detection ability above average",
  "sample_size": 51,
  "outcomes": [
    "Human perception/detection thresholds of AC-DC hybrid electric fields",
    "Influence of AC component strength on detection thresholds",
    "Lower bound of detectable hybrid EF combinations"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a double-blind laboratory study using a psychophysical method based on signal detection theory, detection thresholds for hybrid AC-DC electric fields were significantly lower when AC electric field strength was increased. Very low hybrid field combinations (e.g., 1 kV/m AC combined with 1 kV/m DC) were reliably perceived by at least one participant.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Participants were selected for above-average EF detection ability, limiting generalizability to the general population",
    "Exposure duration not stated in the abstract",
    "Environmental factors (e.g., humidity, ion currents) noted as potentially relevant but not controlled/fully addressed in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electric fields",
    "AC-DC hybrid",
    "HVDC",
    "overhead power lines",
    "human perception",
    "detection threshold",
    "double-blind",
    "signal detection theory",
    "psychophysics"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Study concerns exposure to electric fields from power transmission infrastructure; relevant to exposure contexts though participants were not described as workers."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07388-w
PubMed: Not supplied

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library