title: Exposure assessment for electric and magnetic fields.
abstract: Exposure assessment for extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF) is discussed. It is suggested that such assessments can be designed by attempting to mimic the receptor's experience of interest. Present efforts are, however, hampered by the lack of clearly defined human health effects, or even important interaction mechanisms, which might be used to define the appropriate exposure measure, the experience of interest. The state of the art of ELF EMF exposure assessment is described, including the use of surrogates, models, and available instrumentation. Data indicate that magnetic field levels in the home are of the order of 0.1 microT and that nonoccupational total exposures may best be predicted by levels in the bedroom. Occupational exposures may be orders of magnitude higher where high currents are present.
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000097:blood; D003625:Data Collection; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002248:Carbon Monoxide