The potential health effects of electric and magnetic fields have been studied for a long time. The World Health Organization (WHO) published an extensive book on its website a while ago, which deals with, for instance, research reports on the subject.
Exposure to electric and magnetic fields includes exposure to low frequency and radio frequency fields. Low frequency fields are caused by electric devices, power lines, distribution lines and electric cables in the houses themselves. Radio frequency lines, however, appear in the vicinity of mobile phones and diverse base stations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) follows the health effects caused by exposure to these fields. WHO has published a several books with research results about the potential health effects. The latest book is available in advance on their website. It focuses on low frequency fields and its name isExtremely Low Frequency Fields Environmental Health Criteria Monograph No.238“.
Another very topical issue regarding these fields is the new directive (2004/40/EY), concerning the minimal requirements of health and safety as to protecting employees from exposure to risks caused by physical factors (electric and magnetic fields). The directive defines the maximum values for employees concerning exposure to electromagnetic fields. In Finland the directive will come into force after a transition period.
Different standards are being prepared to support the directive. SESKO´s national committee of standardization SK 106 (Exposure to electromagnetic fields) actively participates in this preparatory work. For further information, see the SESKO website.
There is a rather extensive book on electromagnetic fields even in Finnish.Säteilyturvakeskus (The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority) published a new book in their book series by the name “Sähkömagneettiset kentät” (Electromagnetic fields). The book’s authors have been doing research on the subject for a long time. The topics include mobile phones, power lines, TV and radio stations and many industrial applications e.g., electric welding apparatus. Exposure measuring and biological and physiological effects of the fields are also discussed extensively in this book.
There is quite a lot happening around the topic of exposure to electric and magnetic fields. New research reports flood in and the new directive causes all kinds of preparatory work. This seems to have remained a very timely issue year after year and seems to be that even today.
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