Assessment of Exposure to Indoor Power Frequency Magnetic Fields: SEET Building and Engineering Laboratories, FUTA

Authors

  • A. A. Ponnle Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria
  • S. K. Ani Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria

Keywords:

Magnetic field exposure, Electromagnetic field, Ionising radiation, Safe limit

Abstract

Use of electricity and other technological devices are the major sources of magnetic field pollution, and due to their ubiquitous use, human beings in this century are exposed to high amount of magnetic fields in their various environment. According to electromagnetic field regulating bodies, over exposure to magnetic fields causes numerous health problems such as cancer, leukemia, and other health implications. This paper presents an investigative study of the level of exposure of personnel to indoor power frequency magnetic fields (magnetic fields due to mains current) within the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET) Building; SEET Laboratory Complex, and the Electrical/Electronics Engineering (EEE) Laboratory, all within Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). The study was carried out within the buildings with all electrical devices in operation, and measurements were taken with a magnetic field strength meter. The ground floor of the SEET building had maximum and minimum values of 23.10µT and 1.01µT, the first floor had 23.41µT and 1.08µT, while the second floor had 17.08µT and 1.42µT respectively. The ground floor of the SEET Laboratory Complex had maximum and minimum values of 15.11µT and 0.11µT, while the first floor had 12.32µT and 1.10µT respectively. The Electrical Laboratory had maximum and minimum values of 27.11µT and 0.10µT respectively. The study revealed that the level of magnetic field exposure within the buildings considered is within the limit stipulated by the International Commission on Non Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for public magnetic field exposure, which is at a maximum reference level of 100µT.

References

Adey, W. (1993): Electromagnetics in Biology and Medicine. Vol. 1, Oxford University Press, London, UK.

Adekunle A., Abimiku Y.K., Nwafor C. O., Nwaigwe D.N. and Agbonkhase O. (2015): “High Voltage Transformers and Electromagnetic Emissions: Consequence on Students’s Health in Apata, Ibadan, Nigeria”, Advances in Physics Theories and Applications, Vol. 46, pp. 16 – 25.

Ahmed H., Wael M., and Ehab A. (2012): “Effects of Electromagnetic Field from Power Line on Metallic Objects and Human Bodies”. International Journal of Electromagnetics and Applications, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 151-158.

Akan Z., Aksu B., Tulunay A., ,Bilsel S., and Inhan-Garip A. (2010): “Extremely Low –Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Affect the Immune Response of Monocyte-derived Macrophages to Pathogens”, Bioelectromagnetics, Vol. 31, pp. 603-612.

Al-Faqeeh I.J., Abu-Jafer M., and Abdelraziq I. R. (2015): “The Effect of the Electromagnetic Radiation from High Voltage Transformers on Students’ Health in Hebron District”, International Journal of Geology, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 3, Issue 1, pp. 75 – 81.

Andrew, M. (1999): Electromagnetic Pollution. Consumer Health and the Planetary Association for Clean Energy Inc. and ESSENTIA Comms Inc. Vol.3, No. 14.

Chlor E. (2012): “Electromagnetic Fields in Chlor-Alkali Production Health Effects and Regulation”, Focus on Chlorine Science, Issue 5, pp. 1-4.

Corbacio, M. (2013): Effects of a Powerline Frequency Magnetic Field on Human Cognitive Processing. Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 1762, Medical Biophysics, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, The University of Western Ontario, Canada.

Daniel, W. and Bombard, A. (2011): National Paranormal Society"s Hand Book., United States of America. Available at Lulu.com

Directive 2004/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2004): “The Minimum Health and Safety Requirements Regarding the Exposure of Workers to the Risks Arising from Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields)” Official Journal of the European Union, L184, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp.1-9.

Durney C. H., Massoudi H., and Lskander M. F. (1986): Radiofrequency Radiation Dosimetry Handbook, 4th Edition, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Aerospace Medical Division (AFSC), Brooks Air Force Base, TX 78235-5301.

Grandolfo G. (2009): “Worldwide Standards on Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields: An Overview”, The Environmentalist, Vol. 29, Issue 2, pp. 109-117.

Florea G. A., Dinca A., and Gal A. (2009): “An Original Approach to the Biological Impact of the Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields and Proofed Means of Mitigations”, IEEE Bucharest Power Tech. Conference, Romania, pp.1-8.

Focke F., Schuermann D., Kuster N., and Schar P. (2009): “DNA Fragmentation in Human Fibroblasts Under Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure”, Mutation Research, Vol. 683(1-2), pp. 74 – 83.

International Agency for Research on Cancers – IARC (2002): “Static and Extremely Low-Frequency (ELF) Electric and Magnetic Fields”, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinographic Risks to Humans, Vol. 80, Lyon, France.

Ibrahim, M., Hamdallah, A., and Ozovche, A. (2013): "Risk Assessment of Magnetic Pollution in Average Home", International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, Vol. 3, Issue 2, pp. 1126-1130.

ICES (2016): IEEE C95 Standards. Retrieved April 5, 2016 from http://www.ices-emfsafety.org/publications/standards/

ICNIRP (1998): “Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-varying Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300 GHz),” Health Physics, Vol. 74, pp. 494–522.

ICNIRP (2010): Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-varying Electric and Magnetic Fields, Health Physics, Vol. 99, pp. 818-836.

ICNIRP (2016): About ICNIRP, Retrieved April 6, 2016 from http://www.icnirp.org

IEEE Std C95.6 (2002): “IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with respect to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, 0 – 3 kHz”, pp. 1-43.

IEEE Std C95.1, (2005): “IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with respect to Human Exposure to Radio frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz”.

ISO (2016): Standards. Retrieved June 3, 2016 from http://www.iso.org/home/standards.htm

Jolanta K. K. G. (2006): “Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure to a Magnetic Field from Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices”, International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp.155–167.

Kheifets L., Afifi A. A., and Shimkhada R. (2006): “Public Health Impact of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields”, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 114, Issue 10, pp. 1532 - 1537.

Kula B., Sobczak A., and Kuska R. (2000): “Effects of static and ELF magnetic fields on free – radical processes in rat liver and kidney”, Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Vol. 19, Issue 1, pp. 99-105.

Lai H., and Singh N. P. (2004): “Magnetic-field-induced DNA strand breaks in brain cells of the rat”, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 112, Issue 6, pp. 687 - 694.

Mahajan A. and Singh M. (2012): Human Health and Electromagnetic Radiations. International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT), Vol. 1, Issue 6, pp. 95-97.

Michael, R. and Neuert, M. (2014): Possible Safety Distance to Consider for EMF sources. Retrieved March 3, 2016, from: http://www.emfinfo.org/guidlines-distance.html

Milani M., Balerini, M., Ferraro L., Zabeo M., Barberis M., Cannona M., and Faleri M. (2001): “Magnetic field effects on human lymphocytes. Electromagnetic field effects on human lymphocytes”, Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Vol. 20, Issue 1, pp. 81-106.

Milham S., and Ossiander E. M. (2001): “Historical Evidence that Residential Electrification caused the Emergence of the Childhood Leukemia Peak”, Medical Hypotheses, Vol. 56, Issue 3, pp. 290 - 295.

National Health and Medical Research Council – NHMRC (1989): “Interim Guidelines on Limits of Exposure to 50/60 Hz Electric and Magnetic Fields”, Radiation Health Series, No. 30, pp. 1-35.

National Institute of Environmental Health Science - NIEHS (1999): “Health Effects from Exposure to power line Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields”, No. 99-4493.

National Radiological Protection Board – NRPB (1993): “Restrictions on Human Exposure to Static and Time Varying Electromagnetic Fields and Radiation: Scientific Basis and Recommendation for Implementation of the Board’s Statement”, Documents of the NRPB, Vol. 4, pp. 8–69.

National Radiological Protection Board - NRPB (2004a): “Advice on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Field (0 - 300GHz)”, Documents of the NRPB, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 1-35.

National Radiological Protection Board – NRPB (2004b): “Review of the Scientific Evidence for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (0- 300GHz)”, Documents of the NRPB, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 1 – 215.

Neutra R. R., Del-Pizzo V. and Lee G. M. (2002): “An Evaluation of the Possible Risks from Electric and Magnetic Fields from Power Lines, Internal Wiring, Electrical Occupations and Appliances”, California EMF Program, Oakland, USA.

Osepchuk J. M., and Petersen R. C. (2001): “Safety Standards for Exposure to RF Electromagnetic Fields”, IEEE Microwave Magazine, Vol. 2, Issue 2, pp. 57-69.

Özdemir, F. and Kargi, A. (2011): Electromagnetic Waves and Human Health, Retrieved May 10, 2016 from http://www.intechofen.com/books/electromagnetic-waves/electromagnetic-waves-and-human-health.

Peter M. (2006): “Effects on the Human Body and Assessment Methods of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields Caused by Spot Welding”, Proceedings of the 4th International Seminar on Advances in Resistance Welding, Wels, pp. 1-17.

Phillips J., Singh N., and Lai H. (2009): “Electromagnetic Fields and DNA Damage”, Pathophysiology, Vol. 16, Issue 2-3, pp. 79 – 88.

Reilly J. P. (1998): “Applied Bioelectricity: from Electrical Stimulation to Electropathology”, Springer, New York.

Reilly J. P. and Jaffa K. C. (2001): “The IEEE Draft Electric and Magnetic Field Exposures Standards for the Public and Workers, 0 to 3kHz”, In IEEE Proceedings, 2001 Power Engineering Society Summer Meeting, Vancouver, Canada, pp. 186-194.

Savitz D. A. and Loomis D. P. (1995): “Magnetic Field Exposure in Relation to Leukemia and Brain Cancer Mortality among Electric Utility Workers”, American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 141, Issue 2, pp. 123 - 134.

SCENIHR (2009): Health Effects of Exposure to EMF. European Commission, Health & Consumer Protection.

SCENIHR (2015): Research Needs and Methodology to address the remaining Knowledge Gaps on the Potential Health Effects of EMF. European Commission, Health & Consumer Protection DG.

Seyhan N., Firlarer A., Canseven A. G., Özden S., Cam S. T., (2013): “Occupational EMF Exposure Measurements in Different Work Environments”, European Journal of Oncology Library, Vol. 5, pp. 379-386.

Stavroulakis, P. (2003): Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields: Mechanisms, Modeling, Biological Effects, Therapeutic Effects, International Standards, Exposure Criteria. Springer Science and Business Media, Heidelberg, Berlin.

Van-Loock W. (2009): “Elementary Effects in Humans Exposed to Electromagnetic Fields and Radiation”, Proceedings of the 5th Asian- Pacific Conference on Environmental Electromagnetics, Belgium, pp. 221-224.

Wei, H. and Yu., K. N. (2010): Ionising Radiation, DNA Double Strand Break and Mutation. In Advances in Genetics Research, Vol. 4, Chapter 7, Editor: Kevin V Urbano, pp. 1 – 13.

World Health Organization - WHO (2007): “Extremely Low Frequency Fields”. Environmental Health Criteria 238, Geneva. Available at http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/Complet_DEC_2007.pdf

World Health Organization - WHO (2014): WHO Standards and Guidelines. Retrieved April 4, 2016, from World Health Organisation: www.who.int/peh-emf/standards/en/

World Health Organization - WHO (2016): About WHO. Retrieved April 7, 2016 from World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/about/en

World Health Organization, What are electromagnetic fields? pp. 1-8. Available at http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index4.html

Zamanian, A. and Hardiman, C. (2005): “Electromagnetic Radiations and Human Health: A Review of Sources and Effects”, High Frequency Electronics, Vol. 16, pp. 16-26.

Downloads

Published

2019-05-14