ABSTRACT
Since the 1979 Wertheimer and Leeper study1 there has been concern that exposure to power frequency (50/60 Hz) electromagnetic elds (EMFs), especially magnetic elds, may contribute to adverse health effects including cancer. Until now, the most commonly used exposure metric has been the time-weighted average of the power frequency magnetic eld. However, the low risk ratios in most studies suggest that magnetic elds might be a surrogate for a more important metric. I present evidence that a new exposure metric, high frequency voltage transients (dirty electricity) existing on electrical power wiring, is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality in electrically exposed populations. The new metric is measured with a Graham/Stetzer meter (G/S meter), also known as a Microsurge II meter (MS II meter), which is plugged into electric outlets.2 This meter displays the average rate of change of these high frequency voltage transients (dV/dT) that exist everywhere on electric power wiring and gives a numerical output in G/S units. High frequency voltage transients found on electrical wiring both inside and outside of buildings are caused by an interruption of electrical current ow and by arcing and sparking. The electrical utility industry has referred to these transients as “dirty electricity.”
