EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT IN THE VICINITY OF WIND TURBINES.

Radiation protection dosimetry · 2020 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5640

Study snapshot

PublicationRadiation protection dosimetry · 2020

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is an exponential growth of public concern worldwide regarding the exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by wind turbines. The high concern of the general population enhances the fact that EMF exposure remains a crucial issue that demands specific actions and reliable data to evaluate possible health hazards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EMF exposure measurements were conducted in two wind farm (W/F) areas in Greece. The magnetic field strength concentrated in the proximity of 22 wind turbines (20 type of Gamesa Eolica Siemens of total power of 17 MW and 2 type of E53 Enercon, 800 KW each). Measurements were conducted using a Narda-NBM-550 basic unit (Narda Safety Test Solutions Company) using EHP-50F probe. The EMF exposure measurements were processed applying the weighted peak method (WPM), according to the 2013/35/EU Directive. WPM provides correction of the measured value of pulse signals, taking into account the phases of the various frequency components. The data were classified under two scenarios of EMF exposure: 'high wind' and 'low wind' conditions. RESULTS: The variation of the magnetic field strength was calculated between 1.13 and 1.42% (WPM). Measurements indicate that the intensity of the emitted magnetic field at the base of the wind turbines, in both high and low wind conditions, was relatively low (mean = 0.146 μT), while decreasing rapidly with increasing distance and reaching background values 6 m from the base. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that EMF levels are similar or even lower compared to those in urban areas and well below the national and international safety limits.

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 directionno_effect

PopulationNot supplied

Sample size22

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In measurements near 22 wind turbines in two wind farm areas in Greece, magnetic field intensity at the base was reported as relatively low (mean = 0.146 μT) and decreased rapidly with distance, reaching background values at 6 m from the base. Reported EMF levels were described as similar or lower than those in urban areas and well below national and international safety limits.

Outcomes measured

Magnetic field strength (μT) near wind turbines
Distance decay to background levels
Comparison to safety limits (2013/35/EU Directive; national/international limits)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "wind turbines",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 22,
  "outcomes": [
    "Magnetic field strength (μT) near wind turbines",
    "Distance decay to background levels",
    "Comparison to safety limits (2013/35/EU Directive; national/international limits)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In measurements near 22 wind turbines in two wind farm areas in Greece, magnetic field intensity at the base was reported as relatively low (mean = 0.146 μT) and decreased rapidly with distance, reaching background values at 6 m from the base. Reported EMF levels were described as similar or lower than those in urban areas and well below national and international safety limits.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "magnetic field",
    "wind turbines",
    "wind farm",
    "exposure measurement",
    "Greece",
    "Narda NBM-550",
    "EHP-50F probe",
    "weighted peak method",
    "2013/35/EU Directive"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.28,
      "reason": "Mentions comparison to national/international safety limits and uses an EU exposure directive framework (2013/35/EU)."
    },
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.18,
      "reason": "Measurements processed according to the 2013/35/EU Directive, which concerns worker exposure limits, though no worker population is described."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1093/rpd/ncaa053
PubMed: 32409836

Read the original paper →

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