ABSTRACT
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 94 Basic ELF-EMF Concepts ............................................................................................................. 94
Definitions and Units ............................................................................................................... 94 Summary of Definitions and Units ................................................................................... 95
EMF Physical Characteristics ................................................................................................. 95 Summary of EMF Physical Characteristics ...................................................................... 98
EMF Exposure Metrics ............................................................................................................ 98 Summary of EMF Exposure Metrics ............................................................................... 101
Population Statistics ............................................................................................................... 101 Summary of Population Statistics ................................................................................... 101
Electric Power Systems............................................................................................................... 102 Personal Exposures of Electric Utility Workers ................................................................. 104
Summary of Electric Power Systems .............................................................................. 104 Residences .................................................................................................................................... 105
Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 105 Personal Residential Exposures ........................................................................................... 107
Summary of Residences.................................................................................................... 107 Schools and Offices ..................................................................................................................... 108
Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 108 Personal Exposures in Schools and Offices ........................................................................ 109
Summary of Schools and Offices ..................................................................................... 110 Transportation ............................................................................................................................. 110
Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 110 Personal Transportation Exposures ..................................................................................... 112
Summary of Transportation ............................................................................................. 113 Manufacturing and Other Occupations ................................................................................... 113
Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 113 Personal Exposures in Manufacturing and Other Occupations ...................................... 115
Summary of Manufacturing and Other Occupations .................................................. 115 Motion Gradient Magnetic Fields ............................................................................................. 115
Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 115 Personal Exposures to MG-MFs ........................................................................................... 116
Summary of MG-MFs ....................................................................................................... 117 Concluding Reflections .............................................................................................................. 117 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... 120 Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................... 120 References ..................................................................................................................................... 120
A crucial step in epidemiology involves understanding the exposures that may affect human health. This chapter covers the basic elements that determine exposures to electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) at extremely low frequencies (ELFs ≡ >0-3000 Hz) in everyday environments, particularly electric utilities, residences, schools, offices, transportation, and manufacturing. The chapter starts with an overview of basic concepts. For each environment, important sources of ELF-EMFs are described, followed by a brief survey of exposure measurements.
