Electromagnetic fields in offices.
With the increased use of electric and electronic equipment in our offices, our daily exposure to electromagnetic fields has become increasingly complex due to the great variety of the frequency content of the fields. Today focus has shifted from monitors as the dominating sources of electromagnetic fields to other electronic equipment, cabling, nearby substations, power lines and stray currents in buildings. In the last 5 years wireless communication has become common in our offices. These devices use radio frequency waves to communicate and are therefore sources of radio frequency fields in our offices. To a certain degree, they all add to the complicated issue of the extensive field frequencies found in offices. The exposure of office workers is generally considered to be low and not in conflict with the existing guidelines, but if a precaution approach is applied there are a number of measures that can be taken to reduce the electromagnetic fields in offices in order to obtain a good electrical environment.
Sandström
Monica
M
National Institute for Working Life, Umeå, Sweden. monsand@niwl.se
D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D003201:Computers; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D033161:Government Regulation; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D017132:Workplace / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards