An interlaboratory comparison program on ELF electric and magnetic fields measurements performed in Greece: Second round of the scheme.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2015 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 4783

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2015

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

The second round of an interlaboratory comparison program for extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields measurements was performed at the High Voltage Laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens (Greece). The 16 participating laboratories measured the following: (i) electric field produced by a scale transmission line; (ii) magnetic field produced by a medium voltage cable; and (iii) magnetic field and frequency at the center of a standard square coil and their delivered results were evaluated in all measurement scenarios with use of performance statistics z-scores. Deviations between z-scores based on usual estimators (mean value, standard deviation) and robust estimators (derived with the robust algorithm described by the International Organization for Standardization [ISO, 2005]) highlight improved performance of the robust algorithm. An overall comparison to measurement procedure and performance results of the first round proves effectiveness and necessity of the scheme. Improper instrumentation or calibration, instability of the field source and measurement position uncertainty are factors that may cause unsatisfactory performance of the participants.

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 typeexposure_assessment

Effect directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample size16

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Sixteen laboratories participated in an interlaboratory comparison of ELF electric and magnetic field measurements under three scenarios, with performance evaluated using z-scores. Deviations between z-scores computed with usual estimators versus robust estimators (ISO 2005 robust algorithm) were reported, highlighting improved performance of the robust algorithm; comparison with the first round supported the effectiveness and necessity of the scheme.

Outcomes measured

Interlaboratory performance in ELF electric field measurement (scale transmission line)
Interlaboratory performance in ELF magnetic field measurement (medium voltage cable)
Interlaboratory performance in magnetic field and frequency measurement (standard square coil)
Comparison of z-scores using usual vs robust estimators (ISO 2005 robust algorithm)
Identification of factors contributing to unsatisfactory measurement performance

Limitations

Letter format with limited methodological detail in abstract
No quantitative results (e.g., z-score distributions, pass/fail rates) provided in abstract
Frequency values for ELF scenarios not specified in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "high voltage transmission line / medium voltage cable / standard square coil",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 16,
  "outcomes": [
    "Interlaboratory performance in ELF electric field measurement (scale transmission line)",
    "Interlaboratory performance in ELF magnetic field measurement (medium voltage cable)",
    "Interlaboratory performance in magnetic field and frequency measurement (standard square coil)",
    "Comparison of z-scores using usual vs robust estimators (ISO 2005 robust algorithm)",
    "Identification of factors contributing to unsatisfactory measurement performance"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Sixteen laboratories participated in an interlaboratory comparison of ELF electric and magnetic field measurements under three scenarios, with performance evaluated using z-scores. Deviations between z-scores computed with usual estimators versus robust estimators (ISO 2005 robust algorithm) were reported, highlighting improved performance of the robust algorithm; comparison with the first round supported the effectiveness and necessity of the scheme.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Letter format with limited methodological detail in abstract",
    "No quantitative results (e.g., z-score distributions, pass/fail rates) provided in abstract",
    "Frequency values for ELF scenarios not specified in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF",
    "electric field",
    "magnetic field",
    "interlaboratory comparison",
    "measurement",
    "z-scores",
    "robust estimators",
    "ISO 2005",
    "calibration",
    "instrumentation",
    "high voltage laboratory"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.28,
      "reason": "Measurements performed in a high-voltage laboratory setting involving transmission line/cable/coil sources; relevant to occupational/technical exposure measurement practice."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1002/bem.21913
PubMed: 25846898

Read the original paper →

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