ABSTRACT
Quite high exposure can occur in some of occupations as well as during some personal activities, for instance, in trains, where the extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic field can reach rather high levels. This chapter presents an overview of the fields the authors encounter in the steady direct current and low-frequency range and in various situations. Recent published reviews of common field exposures include Joseph D. Bowman on both ordinary environmental and occupational exposures and P. Gajsek et al., which discusses European exposures. Several studies have explored the exposure to ELF electric and magnetic fields in homes in different countries. Inside an organism, naturally occurring charges, currents, and fields in cells, tissues, and organs are very important physiologically, and electric charges and magnetic moments are crucial factors in determining molecular structure and chemical reaction rates. Most modern electrical appliances are equipped with an electronically switched power supply in which an electronic circuit replaces the old-style transformer.
