title: Analysis of the charge exchange between the human body and ground: evaluation of "earthing" from an electrical perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate "earthing" from an electrical perspective through measurement and analysis of the naturally occurring electron flow between the human body or a control and ground as this relates to the magnitude of the charge exchange, the relationship between the charge exchange and body functions (respiration and heart rate), and the detection of other information that might be contained in the charge exchange.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sensitive, low-noise instrumentation was designed and fabricated to measure low-level current flow at low frequencies. This instrumentation was used to record current flow between human subjects or a control and ground, and these measurements were performed approximately 40 times under varied circumstances. The results of these measurements were analyzed to determine if information was contained in the current exchange.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The currents flowing between the human body and ground were small (nanoamperes), and they correlated with subject motion. There did not appear to be any information contained in this exchange except for information about subject motion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that currents flow between the environment (earth) and a grounded human body; however, these currents are small (nanoamperes) and do not appear to contain information other than information about subject motion.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamberlin
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Student, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chirgwin
authors.affiliation: Student, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.
authors.forename: Seshank
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Appasani
authors.affiliation: Student, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rioux
keywords: Bioelectric energy sources; Bioelectrical impedance; Electric impedance