Residential magnetic and electric fields

A magnetic flux density (MFD) and electric-field (E-field) data-acquisition system was built for characterizing extremely low-frequency fields in residences. Every 2 min during 24-h periods, MFD and E-field measurements were made in 43 homes in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties of Washington State. The total electrical energy used in each residence during the 24-h measurement period was also recorded, and maps were drawn to scale of the distribution wiring within 43 m (140 ft) of these homes. Finally, on a separate date, field measurements were made in each home during an epidemiological interview. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1) 24-h-average MFD measured at two separate points in the family room were correlated, as were a 24-h-average bedroom measurement and the mean of the two family-room measurements. 2) The 24-h-average family-room MFD and E-field measurements were uncorrelated. 3) The 24-h-average total harmonic distortions of family-room MFD and E-fields were less than about 24% and 7%, respectively. 4) Residential MFD exhibited a definite 24-h (diurnal) cycle. 5) The 24-h-average and interviewer-measured MFD were correlated. 6) Residential 24-h-average MFD were correlated with the wiring code developed by Wertheimer and Leeper. 7) An improved prediction of 24-h-average residential MFD was obtained using the total number of service drops, the distance to neighboring transmission lines, and the number of primary phase conductors.     

Spreadsheet method for calculating the induced currents in bone-fracture healing by a low-frequency magnetic field

A commercially available spreadsheet program is used on a microcomputer to calculate the induced current density and electric field patterns produced in a nonhomogeneous, anisotropic model of tissue by a localized, low-frequency magnetic field source. Specific application is made to coils used to promote the healing of bone fractures in limbs. The variation of the conductivity of the fracture gap during healing causes the induced current density pattern to change correspondingly, whereas the induced electric field remains relatively unchanged. Use of more simplified, isotropic models for the bone and for the soft tissue leads to results that differ significantly from those obtained from the full model. The magnetic field beyond the region of the coils contributes little to the induced currents in the fracture gap if the gap is located near the center of the coils. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Measuring temporal variability in residential magnetic field exposures

Considerable interest has developed during the past ten years regarding the hypothesis that living organisms may respond to temporal variability in ELF magnetic fields to which they are exposed. Consequently, methods to measure various aspects of temporal variability are of interest. In this paper, five measures of temporal variability were examined: Arithmetic means (D(mean)) and rms values (D(rms)) of the first differences (i.e., absolute value of the difference between consecutive measurements) of magnetic field recordings; "standardized" forms of D(rms), denoted RCMS, obtained by dividing D(rms) by the standard deviations of the magnetic field data; and mean (F(mean)) and rms (F(rms)) values of fractional first differences. Theoretical investigations showed that D(mean) and D(rms) are virtually unaffected by long-term systematic trends (changes) in exposure. These measures thus provide rather specific measures of short-term temporal variability. This was also true to a lesser extent for F(mean) and F(rms). In contrast, the RCMS metric was affected by both short-term and long-term exposure variabilities. The metrics were also investigated using a data set consisting of twice-repeated two-calendar-day recordings of bedroom magnetic fields and personal exposures of 203 women residing in the western portion of Washington State. The predominant source of short-term temporal variability in magnetic field exposures arose from the movement of subjects through spatially varying magnetic fields. Spearman correlations between TWA bedroom magnetic fields or TWA personal exposures and five measures of temporal variability were relatively low. Weak to moderate levels of correlation were observed between temporal variability measured during two different sessions separated in time by 3 or 6 months. We conclude that first difference and fractional difference metrics provide specific and fairly independent measures of short-term temporal variability. The RCMS metric does not provide an easily interpreted measure of short-term or long-term temporal variability. This last result raises uncertainties about the interpretation of published studies that use the RCMS metric.     

Development and evaluation of a location-specific wire code

The development of a wire code protocol based on a study of electrical installations in Melbourne, Australia, is described. Because of very significant differences between the Melbourne power distribution system and that used in Denver, Colorado, an approach different from that used by Wertheimer and Leeper was required. A combined practical and theoretical approach was used to determine a continuous exposure index, defined as a measure of the potential for exposure due to external electrical installations. The protocol was tested on a convenient sample of 41 homes in which the field was monitored over a 12 hour overnight period. A correlation of 0.85 (95% CI 0.74–0.92, P < .0001) was obtained between the measured time-weighted average and the wire coding exposure index. To assess the efficacy of the wiring configuration index, a computer simulation of a case-control study was then performed. It was concluded that, using the same basic reasoning of the Wertheimer and Leeper code, it is possible to develop a location-specific code that provides a good correlation with the residential time-weighted average and an acceptable degree of exposure misclassification. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of prenatal exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields on development in mice: I. Implantation rate and fetal development

Pregnant CD1 mice were exposed or sham-exposed from day 0 to day 17 of gestation to a 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at 20 mT (rms). Preimplantation and postimplantation survival were assessed and fetuses examined for the presence of gross external, internal, and skeletal abnormalities. There were no statistically significant field-dependent effects on preimplantation or postimplantation survival, sex ratio, or the incidence of fetuses with internal or skeletal abnormalities. Magnetic field exposure was, however, associated with longer and heavier fetuses at term, with fewer external abnormalities. The results lend no support to suggestions of increased rates of spontaneous abortion or congenital malformation following prenatal exposure to power frequency magnetic fields. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Electric-field ion cyclotron resonance

We consider the possibility that DC magnetic fields can interact in a resonant manner with endogenous AC electric fields in biological systems. Intrinsic electric-field ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) interactions would be more physically credible than models based on external AC magnetic fields and might be expected as an evolutionary response to the long-term constancy of the geomagnetic field. Bioelectromagnetics 17:85–87, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Short-circuit currents,surface electric fields,and axial current densities for guinea pigs exposed to ELF electric fields.

Short-circuit currents, surface electric fields, and axial current densities were measured in electrically grounded guinea pigs exposed to a uniform, vertical, ELF electric field. These data are 70–110% of corresponding values obtained in grounded rats exposed to the same electric field.     

极低频率（ELF）磁场对细胞生长周期分布谱的影响及其机理的计算机模拟分析

测定在各种温度条件下和在ＥＬＦ（极低频率）磁场作用下细胞生长周期分布谱的变化。实验结果表明温度不仅能使周期分布谱的离散性发生改变,而且也能使谱的峰值产生位移,而ＥＬＦ磁场只能使周期分布谱的离散性发生变化,对谱的峰值没有显著影响。这一差异是由于温度和ＥＬＦ磁场对细胞生长产生影响的机理不同。用计算模拟不同机理对细胞生长周期分布谱的影响与我们早先提出的机理相吻合,即温度影响细胞内各种生长因子、生物离子的     

Early pregnancy loss and exposure to 50-Hz magnetic fields

The possibility of an association of early pregnancy loss (EPL) with residential exposure to ELF magnetic fields was investigated in a case-control study. Eighty-nine cases and 102 controls were obtained from the data of an earlier study aimed at investigating the occurrence of EPL in a group of women attempting to get pregnant. Magnetic-field exposure was characterized by measurements in residences. Strong magnetic fields were measured more often in case than in control residences. In an analysis based on fields measured at the front door, a cutoff score of 0.5 A/m (0.63 μT) resulted in an odds ratio of 5.1 (95% confidence interval 1.0–25). The results should be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of highly exposed subjects and other limitations of the data. © 1993 Wiley-Liss. Inc.     

Low-voltage ELF electric field measurements in ionic media

Low-voltage electric fields were measured in conductive tissue culture media using three techniques: voltage slope, current density-conductivity, and dipole methods. All three methods tested yielded comparable results. However, all three techniques have associated errors. These errors fall into three major categories: those associated with the measurement equipment, those associated with electrodes, and errors in cross-sectional area measurements. Each source of error is discussed so that all can be taken into account during construction and/or testing of exposure equipment.     

极低频率（ELF）磁场对细胞生长周期分布谱的影响及其机理的计算机模拟分析

测定在各种温度条件下和在ＥＬＦ（极低频率）磁场作用下细胞生长周期分布谱的变化。实验结果表明温度不仅能使周期分布谱的离散性发生改变,而且也能使谱的峰值产生位移,而ＥＬＦ磁场只能使周期分布谱的离散性发生变化,对谱的峰值没有显著影响。这一差异是由于温度和ＥＬＦ磁场对细胞生长产生影响的机理不同。用计算机模拟不同机理对细胞生长周期分布谱的影响与我们早先提出的机理相吻合,即温度影响细胞内各种生长因子、生物离子的活性,而ＥＬＦ磁场则可能通过对细胞膜的影响使细胞内的细胞生长必不可少的生物离子的浓度发生变化。