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The effects of human height and mass on the calculated induced electric fields at 50 Hz for comparison with the EMF Directive 2013/35/EU.

Journal of radiological protection : official journal of the Society for Radiological Protection · 2017 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 4933

Computer simulations of exposure to external 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields indicated that relationships between model height/weight and induced electric fields in multiple tissues could be developed. The action levels (ALs) generally provided a conservat…

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of radiological protection : official journal of the Society for Radiological Protection · 2017
Study typeengineering
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

A worker's height and mass can significantly affect the way in which incident low frequency electric and magnetic fields are absorbed in the body. To investigate this, several anatomically realistic human models were produced for heights between 1.56 and 1.96 m and masses between 33 and 113 kg. The human models were derived from the MAXWEL surface-based phantom, the model previously used in the EMF Directive 2013/35/EU Practical Guide to demonstrate how induced electric fields in the body are calculated. Computer simulations were carried out to calculate the low frequency EMF directive exposure limit value (ELV) quantities, i.e. the induced electric fields, in these human model variations from exposure to external 50 Hz magnetic and electric fields. The computational work showed that simple relationships relating the human model's height/weight with the induced electric fields in tissue types such as bone, fat, muscle, brain, spinal cord and retina could be developed. Calculations of parameters that affected absorption and fields required to produce the EMF Directive ELVs were carried out and compared with the action levels (ALs). It was found that the ALs generally provided a conservative estimate of the ELVs for the various human models and exposure situations studied.

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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 typeengineering
Effect directionunclear
PopulationAnatomically realistic human computational models (heights 1.56–1.96 m; masses 33–113 kg) derived from the MAXWEL phantom
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF
Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Computer simulations of exposure to external 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields indicated that relationships between model height/weight and induced electric fields in multiple tissues could be developed. The action levels (ALs) generally provided a conservative estimate of the exposure limit values (ELVs) for the human models and exposure situations studied.

Outcomes measured

  • Calculated induced electric fields (ELV quantities) at 50 Hz in tissues (bone, fat, muscle, brain, spinal cord, retina)
  • Comparison of action levels (ALs) with exposure limit values (ELVs) under EMF Directive 2013/35/EU
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Anatomically realistic human computational models (heights 1.56–1.96 m; masses 33–113 kg) derived from the MAXWEL phantom",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Calculated induced electric fields (ELV quantities) at 50 Hz in tissues (bone, fat, muscle, brain, spinal cord, retina)",
    "Comparison of action levels (ALs) with exposure limit values (ELVs) under EMF Directive 2013/35/EU"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Computer simulations of exposure to external 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields indicated that relationships between model height/weight and induced electric fields in multiple tissues could be developed. The action levels (ALs) generally provided a conservative estimate of the exposure limit values (ELVs) for the human models and exposure situations studied.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "50 Hz",
    "ELF",
    "induced electric field",
    "computational dosimetry",
    "MAXWEL phantom",
    "height",
    "mass",
    "EMF Directive 2013/35/EU",
    "action levels",
    "exposure limit values",
    "occupational exposure"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Study evaluates 50 Hz exposure limits/action levels in the context of the EMF Directive for workers."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.42,
      "reason": "Work concerns compliance metrics (ALs/ELVs) for low-frequency fields, relevant to guideline/standards discussions."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1088/1361-6498/37/1/201
PubMed: 28118155

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