SOME CHARACTERISTICS ON LOW FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION mag. Rudi VONČINA ELEKTROINŠTITUT MILAN VIDMAR

1. SOME CHARACTERISTICS
ON LOW FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
mag. Rudi VONČINA
ELEKTROINŠTITUT MILAN VIDMAR
2. Mednarodna Regionalna konferenca SEENIRPA
Sodelovanje javnosti v postopkih elektromagnetnih in jedrskih sevanj
Moravske Toplice, 30. in 31. marec 2017

2. mag. Rudi VONČINA
www.okolje.info
INTRODUCTION
 In today’s society, everyone is exposed to a complex mix of weak electric and
magnetic fields from the electricity supply system, domestic appliances and
working equipment and to telecommunications and broadcasting. Advancing
technologies and changes in social behaviour are creating more and more sources
of electromagnetic fields (EMF) of antropogeneous origin.
 Biological effects of weak LF magnetic fields, less than about 100 µT
correspondingly, constitute a physics problem. The effects look paradoxical, for the
energy quantum of these EMF is by many orders of value less than the energy scale
of the elementary chemical acts.
 On the other hand, it is established that some animals are able to detect small
variations of the geomagnetic field on the order of tens of nanoteslas to find their
seasonal habitats. Magnetobiology considers the biological effects of mainly weak
static and low-frequency magnetic fields on living organisms.
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3. mag. Rudi VONČINA
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FIRST STEPS TOWARD LIMIT VALUES
 As it is well known, discussions about the issues regarding EMF effects on human
health have been on for decades worldwide. The main objective of thorough
investigation of the EMF effects is to establish the true science knowledge about
their possible related health effects. The leading role in this research belongs to an
International Commission on Non–Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
 ICNIRP is an independent non-profit scientific organization chartered in Germany.
The mission of ICNIRP is to screen and evaluate scientific knowledge and recent
findings toward providing protection guidance in the frequency range up to
300 GHz. (More: http://www.icnirp.de/).
 The Commission was founded in 1992 from a working group on non–ionizing
radiation, founded by International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) in 1974.
Six years after foundation ICNIRP publishes Guidelines for limiting exposure to time–
varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz).
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4. mag. Rudi VONČINA
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PAST APPROACH
 Despite a criticism of ICNIRP that is non–governmental organisation whose origin
and structure are not clear and which is suspected of having rather close links with
the industries whose expansion is shaped by recommendations for maximum
threshold values for the different frequencies of EMF, precautionary approach
regarding EMF risks is still recommended by Council of Europe.
 Limit values have been laid down in order to protect humans against acute effects
resulting from exposure to EMF or electromagnetic waves on tissues of the central
nervous system in the human head and trunk. They are based on the established
acute harmful effects on humans.
 The Committee reviewed the scientific knowledge on potential health effects of
EMF, and found non–consistent scientific evidence showing a need for revising the
basic restrictions and reference levels set out in The Council Recommendation of 12
July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic
fields (0Hz to 300 GHz).
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5. mag. Rudi VONČINA
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LIMIT VALUES OR RECOMMENDATIONS
 To ensure adequate scientific background on European Council decision the
Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) was
founded in 2008.
 SCENIHR provides opinions on emerging or newly-identified health and
environmental risks and on broad, complex or multidisciplinary issues requiring a
comprehensive assessment of risks to consumer safety or public health and related
issues not covered by other Community risk assessment bodies.
(More: http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/emerging/)
 At this point it must be emphasised that long-term effects of extremely low
frequency EMF and hypersensitivity are excluded from decisions on limit values,
since no mechanisms have been identified and no support from experimental
studies could explain possible effect on human.
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6. mag. Rudi VONČINA
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DILEMMAS – DETECTION OF EMF
 While in past three decades’ biological effects were studied, technical issues
concerning proper methods of EMF detection and evaluation regarding to human
exposure were neglected.
 Detection of EMF is possible by measurements, calculations or assessment based
on emission levels. Each of them has its own characteristics and limitations.
 Solving the problem of evaluation wouldn’t be difficult if detected values of LF EMF
are in a simple linear correlation with electrical charge or current. Since non–
uniformity of spatial distribution of EMF values near devices and facilities and
changes of operational load in real–life situations are a fact that leads to complexity
of determination of real electromagnetic environments.
 Performing reliable detection and post processing of detected values of low–
frequency EMF is a highly demanding task, involving the knowledge of the
impacting parameters and assurance of correct and repeatable measurements as
well as accurate computations.
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7. mag. Rudi VONČINA
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DILEMMAS – EVALUATION OF EMF
 Evaluation of EMF regarding human exposure is more challenging since it must
consider basic characteristics of EMF (intensity, uniformity and duration) and
possible presence of human.
 When mentioned basic characteristics of LF EMF are thoroughly understood
uncertainty of evaluation of EMF it is possible to be defined. That leads to the
solution of dilemmas concerning evaluation of EMF and possibility of recognizing
the health correlated impacting conditions (type, strengths and duration of EMF).
 My current professional effort is oriented in scientific verification of the method for
evaluation of low–frequency EMFs in the vicinity of high–voltage facilities and
evaluation of its impact regarding possible human exposure. The effort is based on
technical work started in the nineties of the last century and it its in the final shape
of proposal.
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8. mag. Rudi VONČINA
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SO WHERE WE ARE NOW?
 Society is currently dealing the issue should EMF to be treated by:
 precautionary principle or
this principle is in place when human activities may lead to morally unacceptable harm
that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish
that harm. Morally unacceptable harm refers to harm to humans or the environment that
is threatening to human life or health, or serious and effectively irreversible, or
inequitable to present or future generations, or imposed without adequate consideration
of the human rights of those affected.
 prevention principle.
this principle allows action to be taken to protect the environment at an early stage. It is
now not only a question of repairing damages after they have occurred, but to prevent
those damages occurring at all. This principle is not as far-reaching as the precautionary
principle. It means in short terms: it is better to prevent than repair.
http://glossary.eea.europa.eu/terminology/
 WHO is proposing model legislation (2006) that provides the legal framework for
implementing protection programmes against non-ionizing radiation.
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9. mag. Rudi VONČINA
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RECOMMENDATIONS
 Insistence on new unproven knowledge can discourage legislature to take further
steps in protection programmes against EMR so adoption of equivalent protection
measures and limit values world wide is advisable.
 Since ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic,
and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300 GHz) are widely accepted they can represent
non–conflict protection measures and limit values starting platform.
 Many serious scientific weaknesses and controversy are present in current
understanding of EMR characteristics and its possible health impact. To overcome
them research potential of different professional and general publics should be
joint.
 Understanding the meaning of strong words of terms precautionary and prevention
principle is crucial in their essence to renew dialog among “professional”,
“legislative” and “general” public. This is mandatory to outcome of the current
stagnation and renew trust in EMS health risks studies.
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10. THANK YOU