CONTENTS:

Articles:

EU Directive, ICNIRP Guidelines and Polish Legislation on Electromagnetic Fields Jolanta Karpowicz, Maila Hietanen & Krzysztof Gryz, 125-136       Electromagnetic Fields in Offices Monica Sandström, 137-147       Occupational Exposure to Power Frequency Fields in Some Electrical Transformation Stations in Romania Cristian Goiceanu & Razvan Danulescu, 149-153       Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure to a Magnetic Field From Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices Jolanta Karpowicz & Krzysztof Gryz, 155-167       Magnetic Fields of Induction Heaters in the Framework of Directive 2004/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council Gilbert Decat, Leo Deckx, Guy Meynen, Emmy De Graef & Florence Jonlet, 169-176       Application of EMF Emission Measurement Techniques to Wireless Communications Systems for Compliance With Directive 2004/40/EC Dina Šimunić & Peter Gajšek, 177-186       Occupational Exposure to Base Stations—Compliance With EU Directive 2004/40/EC Peter Gajšek & Dina Šimunić, 187-194       Electromagnetic Fields: Principles of Exposure Mitigation Rosaria Falsaperla, Giuseppe Spagnoli & Paolo Rossi, 195-200       Quasi-Static Electromagnetic Dosimetry: From Basic Principles to Examples of Applications Daniele Andreuccetti & Nicola Zoppetti, 201-215

EU Directive, ICNIRP Guidelines and Polish Legislation on Electromagnetic Fields
Jolanta Karpowicz, Maila Hietanen & Krzysztof Gryz


This review describes the general provisions of and the philosophy behind European Directive 2004/40/EC and ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) guidelines. As an example of national legislation on the protection of workers against excessive electromagnetic field exposure, regulations established in Poland are summarized. The problems of a practical implementation of the Directive’s provisionsare discussed.

Electromagnetic Fields in Offices
Monica Sandström


With the increased use of electric and electronic equipment in our offices, our daily exposure to electromagnetic fields has become increasingly complex due to the great variety of the frequency content of the fields. Today focus has shifted from monitors as the dominating sources of electromagnetic fields to other electronic equipment, cabling, nearby substations, power lines and stray currents in buildings. In the last 5 years wireless communication has become common in our offices. These devices use radio frequency waves to communicate and are therefore sources of radio frequency fields in our offices. To a certain degree, they all add to the complicated issue of the extensive field frequencies found in offices. The exposure of office workers is generally considered to be low and not in conflict with the existing guidelines, but if a precaution approach is applied there are a number of measures that can be taken to reduce the electromagnetic fields in offices in order to obtain a good electrical environment.

Occupational Exposure to Power Frequency Fields in Some Electrical Transformation Stations in Romania
Cristian Goiceanu & Razvan Danulescu


The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of electric and magnetic power frequency fields at 8 electrical transformation stations in the North-East counties of Romania and to check their compliance with standards. Spot measurements were carried out on both electric and magnetic fields under overhead conductors of 110-, 220- and 380-kV installations. The magnetic field levels were several orders of magnitude below the reference level for occupational exposure set by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation) or by Romanian regulations. In contrast, the electric field levels were about the same order of magnitude as the reference levels. In 2 electrical stations the reference level of 10 kV/m was exceeded at specific locations within the outdoor installations area. However, the additional reference level for short-time exposure included in Romanian regulations, 30 kV/m, was not exceeded.

Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure to a Magnetic Field From Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices
Jolanta Karpowicz & Krzysztof Gryz


Health care staff who operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices are exposed to a static magnetic field of significant spatial heterogenity always produced by MRI magnets during the whole shift. They can also be exposed to pulses of a time-varying magnetic field (gradient field) present only during patients’ examinations. The level of the workers’ exposure depends both on the type of the magnet and on the ergonomic design of each MRI device.
The paper presents methods used for measuring and assessing workers’ exposure. It also discusses the results of inspection measurements carried out next to approximately 20 MRI devices of approximately 0.2–2.0 T. The presented characteristic and overview of the variability of workers’ exposure to a variety of MRI devices supports the need for data on monitoring occupational exposure to MRI. International exposure assessment standards and guidelines (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection [ICNIRP], Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers [IEEE], American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists [ACGIH], European Commission directive), and those established in Poland are also compared.

Magnetic Fields of Induction Heaters in the Framework of Directive 2004/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
Gilbert Decat, Leo Deckx, Guy Meynen, Emmy De Graef & Florence Jonlet


The spectrum and the polarization of the magnetic flux density (B-field) of 6 induction heaters and 1 arc oven were measured by means of a PMM (Italy) spectrum analyser. The spectrum analysis showed that no substantial harmonics were observed while the polarization analysis revealed that the operator’s exposure was non-homogeneous within a distance of 1.5 m from the heater. When the distance was larger, the body was homogeneously exposed. In general we can state that the B-field strongly varied between heaters and that exposure exceeded the occupational reference levels recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) (1998) and European Directive 2004/40/EC in 5 of the 7 heaters. Within the framework of the Directive some protection actions should be taken. Whereas mitigation of existing/old induction ovens is difficult, the design of new induction heaters and their housing should be based, among others, on electromagnetic reducing engineering concepts.

Application of EMF Emission Measurement Techniques to Wireless Communications Systems for Compliance With Directive 2004/40/EC
Dina Šimunić & Peter Gajšek

Europe is the only region in the world with common legislative acts regulating exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) for both the general public and workers. Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC deals with the limitation of exposure of the general public to EMF (0 Hz—300 GHz). Directive 2004/40/EC regulates the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from EMF. This paper discusses the general application of existing standards and recommendations in measurement techniques for determining compliance of measured exposure limit values and action values with those defined in 2004/40/EC.

Occupational Exposure to Base Stations—Compliance With EU Directive 2004/40/EC
Peter Gajšek & Dina Šimunić

The rapid growth of mobile communications has not only led to a rising number of mobile telephones. It has also made base stations essential for services widespread on many roofs. However, not everyone is aware that working close to sources of high frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF), such as transmitter antennas for mobile phones, pagers and police, fire and other emergency services, can result in high EMF exposure. This paper deals with measurements and calculations of the compliance boundary for workers in one typical roof top base station setting according to EU Directive and other relevant EN standards.

Electromagnetic Fields: Principles of Exposure Mitigation
Rosaria Falsaperla, Giuseppe Spagnoli & Paolo Rossi

Basic principles of reducing exposure to electromagnetic fields are reviewed in this article. Measures to reduce exposure can be divided into organisational/administrative and technical/engineering actions. Both strategies are briefly analysed and the basic principles of the theory of shielding are presented. A definition of shielding effectiveness (SE) is given, and the results from the general Transmission Lines Theory are presented. Practical situations of shielding static and time-varying electric and magnetic fields are discussed on the basis of the physical properties of the fields and of the shield.

Quasi-Static Electromagnetic Dosimetry: From Basic Principles to Examples of Applications
Daniele Andreuccetti & Nicola Zoppetti


An overview of quasi-static electromagnetic dosimetry is presented. After an introductive description of quantities and standards and a quick look at experimental and analytical approaches, attention is focused on numerical dosimetry. The process that leads to the calculation of results is analyzed in its basic steps, including the representation of the human body by means of a realistic voxel phantom. The most popular numerical methods are then described. An analysis of different methods in the same framework emphasizes common features and differences. This can help in choosing a more suitable method to solve a particular problem. An example of an application is finally reported.