Setting Guidelines for Electromagnetic Exposures and Research Needs.

Author: Barnes F1, Greenebaum B2
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado. <sup>2</sup>Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Conference/Journal: Bioelectromagnetics.
Date published: 2020 Apr 20
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1002/bem.22267. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 154


Current limits for exposures to nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) are set, based on relatively short-term exposures. Long-term exposures to weak EMF are not addressed in the current guidelines. Nevertheless, a large and growing amount of evidence indicates that long-term exposure to weak fields can affect biological systems and might have effects on human health. If they do, the public health issues could be important because of the very large fraction of the population worldwide that is exposed. We also discuss research that needs to be done to clarify questions about the effects of weak fields. In addition to the current short-term exposure guidelines, we propose an approach to how weak field exposure guidelines for long-term exposures might be set, in which the responsibility for limiting exposure is divided between the manufacturer, system operator, and individual being exposed. Bioelectromagnetics.

© 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

KEYWORDS: exposure guidelines; human health; long term exposures; weak electromagnetic fields

PMID: 32311139 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22267