Electromagnetic field occupational exposure: Non-thermal vs. thermal effects

Abstract

There are a variety of definitions for "non-thermal effects" included in different international standards. They start by the simple description that they are "effects of electromagnetic energy on a body that are not heat-related effects", passing through the very general definition related to low-level effects: "biological effects ascribed to exposure to low-level electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields, i.e. at or below the corresponding dosimetric reference levels in the frequency range covered in this standard (0 Hz-300 GHz)", and going to the concrete definition of "the stimulation of muscles, nerves, or sensory organs, vertigo or phosfenes". Here, we discuss what kind of effect does the non-thermal one has on human body and give data of measurements in different occupations with low-frequency sources of electromagnetic field such as electric power distribution systems, transformers, MRI systems and : video display units (VDUs), whereas thermal effects should not be expected. In some of these workplaces, values above the exposure limits could be found, nevertheless that they are in the term "non-thermal effects" on human body. Examples are workplaces in MRI, also in some power plants. Here, we will not comment on non-thermal effects as a result of RF or microwave exposure because there are not proven evidence about the existance of such effects and mechanisms for them are not clear.

Implementation of a comprehensive MR safety course for medical students

“…The radiofrequency (RF) field B 1 is produced by the integrated system antenna or by local transmit receive RF‐coils. Transmitted RF leads to energy deposition that can cause heating in tissue, especially when implants are present The gradient field is used for the spatial encoding of the MRI signal and can cause peripheral nerve stimulation, implant heating, and is responsible for the noise in MRI suites that can reach levels of 100 dB or more and potentially cause hearing damage …”

Effect of Exposure to Non-ionizing Radiation (Electromagnetic Fields) on Human System: A Literature Review

“…Research on electromagnetic fields and possible health effects has been conducted for over 44 years, and a large number of researches have been conducted only relate to cancer study. Although uncertainties remain as they do with almost all exposure and are being researched, a wide variety of possible health effects have been studied, and so there is now a huge amount of scientific knowledge about electromagnetic fields and possible health effects, particularly cancers [63,64].…”

Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation exposure inside the metro tube infrastructure in Warszawa

“…Such evidence was taken into consideration when the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified RF-EMR as an environmental factor that is a possible human carcinogen -recognized as 2B classification (IARC, 2011(IARC, , 2013. Other observations suggest that chronic, long-term (over years) RF-EMF exposure may be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (Bortkiewicz et al, 2012;Israel et al, 2013;Vangelova et al, 2006;Vesselinowa, 2013). The World Health Organization recently opened public consultations regarding a monograph reviewing current scientific evidence regarding health results of RF-EMR exposure and possible risks to the public caused by the common use of wireless technologies.…”