Effects of Grounding on Body Voltage and Current in the Presence of Electromagnetic Fields

2016 · Benefit · Moderate evidence

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BenefitModerate evidencePaper 2731

Grounding reduced AC body voltage by an average of 58-fold compared to no grounding. AC currents during grounding were several orders of magnitude below the minimum level of perception. Normal household EMFs are too low to produce harmful currents when ground…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2016

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineVol. 22, No. 9 Effects of Grounding on Body Voltage and Current in the Presence of Electromagnetic Fields Effect direction: Protective Author: Richard BrownAuthors Info & Affiliations Publication: The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine doi.org Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if grounding in the presence of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) encountered in a normal housing environment produces harmful currents in the human body. Design: This study had a test–retest design, with duration of 5–15 min per participant. Participants: There were 50 participants, of whom 23 were males aged 12–77 years (Mage ± standard deviation = 50.5 ± 19.5 years) and 27 were females aged 13–79 years (Mage ± standard deviation = 45.9 ± 19.0 years). Intervention: Each participant was instructed to touch a lamp on a desk with his or her left hand, then to move the hand away from the lamp (first one foot away and then three feet) while his/her body voltage was measured. Each participant was then grounded and instructed to repeat the same hand movements. Current was also measured during the grounded retest. Outcome measures: The measured parameters were alternating current (AC) body voltage and current generated from contact or proximity to a lamp and other appliances situated on top of a desk. Results: AC body voltage was reduced by an average of 58-fold when participants were grounded compared with when they were not grounded. AC currents generated during grounding were several orders of magnitude lower than the accepted minimum level of perception. Conclusion: Normal levels of EMFs existing in houses are too low to produce harmful currents when a person is grounded.

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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 directionbenefit

Population50 participants, males and females aged 12-79 years

Sample size50

Exposure5-15 minutes per participant

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 70% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

AC body voltage
AC current in the body

Limitations

Short duration of exposure (5-15 minutes)
Only measured immediate effects, no long-term outcomes
Limited to EMFs in normal housing environment

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "household electromagnetic fields",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "5-15 minutes per participant"
  },
  "population": "50 participants, males and females aged 12-79 years",
  "sample_size": 50,
  "outcomes": [
    "AC body voltage",
    "AC current in the body"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Grounding reduced AC body voltage by an average of 58-fold compared to no grounding. AC currents during grounding were several orders of magnitude below the minimum level of perception. Normal household EMFs are too low to produce harmful currents when grounded.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Short duration of exposure (5-15 minutes)",
    "Only measured immediate effects, no long-term outcomes",
    "Limited to EMFs in normal housing environment"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.7,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "grounding",
    "body voltage",
    "AC current",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "household EMF",
    "protective effect"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.1089/acm.2015.0340
PubMed: Not supplied

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