Exposure to electromagnetic fields from laptop use of "laptop" computers.

Archives of environmental & occupational health · 2012 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4549

Study snapshot

PublicationArchives of environmental & occupational health · 2012

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Portable computers are often used at tight contact with the body and therefore are called "laptop." The authors measured electromagnetic fields (EMFs) laptop computers produce and estimated the induced currents in the body, to assess the safety of laptop computers. The authors evaluated 5 commonly used laptop of different brands. They measured EMF exposure produced and, using validated computerized models, the authors exploited the data of one of the laptop computers (LTCs) to estimate the magnetic flux exposure of the user and of the fetus in the womb, when the laptop is used at close contact with the woman's womb. In the LTCs analyzed, EMF values (range 1.8-6 μT) are within International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, but are considerably higher than the values recommended by 2 recent guidelines for computer monitors magnetic field emissions, MPR II (Swedish Board for Technical Accreditation) and TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), and those considered risky for tumor development. When close to the body, the laptop induces currents that are within 34.2% to 49.8% ICNIRP recommendations, but not negligible, to the adult's body and to the fetus (in pregnant women). On the contrary, the power supply induces strong intracorporal electric current densities in the fetus and in the adult subject, which are respectively 182-263% and 71-483% higher than ICNIRP 98 basic restriction recommended to prevent adverse health effects. Laptop is paradoxically an improper site for the use of a LTC, which consequently should be renamed to not induce customers towards an improper use.

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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 typeexposure_assessment

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample size5

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across 5 laptops, measured EMF values (1.8–6 μT) were within ICNIRP guidelines but higher than values recommended by MPR II and TCO and those described as risky for tumor development. Modeled induced currents from close-contact laptop use were 34.2%–49.8% of ICNIRP recommendations for adults and fetus. The power supply was modeled to induce current densities exceeding ICNIRP 1998 basic restrictions: 182%–263% higher in the fetus and 71%–483% higher in the adult.

Outcomes measured

Measured EMF levels from laptops (magnetic field, μT)
Modeled induced currents/current densities in adult body
Modeled induced currents/current densities in fetus during close-contact use
Comparison to ICNIRP guidelines and other monitor-emission guidelines (MPR II, TCO)

Limitations

Frequency characteristics of the measured fields are not stated in the abstract.
Induced currents were estimated using computerized models and data from one laptop computer rather than all devices.
Health outcomes were not measured; comparisons are to guideline limits/recommendations.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "laptop computer",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 5,
  "outcomes": [
    "Measured EMF levels from laptops (magnetic field, μT)",
    "Modeled induced currents/current densities in adult body",
    "Modeled induced currents/current densities in fetus during close-contact use",
    "Comparison to ICNIRP guidelines and other monitor-emission guidelines (MPR II, TCO)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across 5 laptops, measured EMF values (1.8–6 μT) were within ICNIRP guidelines but higher than values recommended by MPR II and TCO and those described as risky for tumor development. Modeled induced currents from close-contact laptop use were 34.2%–49.8% of ICNIRP recommendations for adults and fetus. The power supply was modeled to induce current densities exceeding ICNIRP 1998 basic restrictions: 182%–263% higher in the fetus and 71%–483% higher in the adult.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency characteristics of the measured fields are not stated in the abstract.",
    "Induced currents were estimated using computerized models and data from one laptop computer rather than all devices.",
    "Health outcomes were not measured; comparisons are to guideline limits/recommendations."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "laptop",
    "portable computer",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "magnetic flux density",
    "induced currents",
    "power supply",
    "fetus",
    "pregnancy",
    "ICNIRP",
    "MPR II",
    "TCO"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Results are framed around comparisons to ICNIRP guideline limits/basic restrictions."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1080/19338244.2011.564232
PubMed: 22315933

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