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The Effects of High EMF

Electric magnetic fields are present throughout the modern world; they are found in any area where electricity is generated, transported or electrical equipment is used. The effects of EMFs can be seen on other electrical equipment and some scientists and researchers claim on human health.

  1. Fields

    • Electric and magnetic fields are invisible lines that emanate from electrical equipment throughout the energy production process. EMFs are measured as Hertz or cycles per second; the Centers for Disease Control rate EMF emissions at levels higher than 60 Hz as having possible effects on human health. EMF levels are regarded as being high in areas around overhead power cables, electrical power generators and motors and in areas of a building close to electrical cables. The level of EMFs varies according to the current passing through a piece of electrical equipment and the size of electrical equipment being used.

    Cancers

    • One of the main areas of contention about the health effects of EMFs is the link between certain forms of cancer of high levels of EMFs. In some studies levels of cancer amongst people living and working in areas with high EMFs have been shown to be above average, while in other studies no significant rise has been found, according to the CDC. Amongst the types of cancer reported to show an increase in occurrence rates are leukemia and brain cancers, along with some forms of breast cancer.

    Equipment

    • Some types of electrical equipment can suffer from interference problems in areas of high EMFs, including some forms of cardiac pacemakers. In environments with EMF levels above 1.5 kV many pacemakers revert to a fail safe mode because the EMF rate can halt the normal process of the pacemaker. Other equipment that is often affected by high EMFs includes visual display units with cathode ray tubes and high EMFs caused by strong electrical currents can cause a picture wobble dependent upon the frames per second speed of the VDU. Microshocks can also be caused in areas where people pass under high voltage power lines while in contact with machinery that conducts electricity, such as a bicycle. A microshock is caused by a small charge of electricity building up as a cyclist passes under a power line, when the cyclist touches conductive material a small shock can be felt that is not usually harmful to human health.

    Regulations

    • There are currently no federal regulations regarding the transmission of EMFs in the U.S., largely this is because the research surrounding EMFs and human health has been largely contradictory up to 2011. Some private organizations have introduced regulations regarding the use of equipment with high EMF levels, however these regulations do not cover the use of equipment with low EMF levels that are commonly encountered by the general public.

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