Abstract

Overview

The study delves into how a worker's physical characteristics, specifically height and mass, impact the absorption of low frequency electric and magnetic fields.

Methodology

The researchers utilized anatomically accurate human models that varied in height from 1.56 to 1.96 meters and mass from 33 to 113 kilograms. These models were based on the MAXWEL surface-based phantom employed in the EMF Directive 2013/35/EU Practical Guide.

• Computer simulations were performed to assess the induced electric fields resulting from exposure to 50 Hz magnetic and electric fields in these varied models.
• Aims were to establish straightforward relationships correlating human model dimensions (height/weight) with the induced electric fields in various tissues such as bone, fat, muscle, brain, spinal cord, and retina.

Findings

The computational analysis successfully extrapolated simple relationships for calculating induced electric fields across different tissue types based on the model's height and weight.

• It also compared these calculations with the action levels (ALs) set forth and found these ALs typically provided a conservatively safe estimate of the exposure limit values (ELVs).

Conclusion

This study underscores the influence of physical dimensions in the safety evaluations of electromagnetic field exposure, promoting a nuanced understanding of the protective measures necessary under varying human physiological conditions.