ELF Magnetic Fields, Transients and TWA Metrics

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry 1999-01, Vol.83 (1-2), p.29-40
• Main Author: KAVET, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Non ionizing radiations. Hertzian waves. Biooptics; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a032660

Residential measurements of ambient power frequency magnetic fields may serve as surrogates for personal exposures. There are few data available, however, to determine how far back in time this surrogacy holds. A limited amount of research on residential transients suggests that, all other factors being equivalent, larger transients may propagate within VHCC neighbourhoods than within LCC neighbourhoods. However, the presence of a conductive residential ground pathway also appears to be a potentially important factor associated with residential transient activity. The use of the TWA metric was prompted by the need for an exposure score simple enough to summarise an individual's exposure over a prior interval, yet specific to the agent of concern, namely the power frequency magnetic field. To the extent that the TWA exposure is associated with health outcomes in the absence of bias, including confounding, the TWA metric is important.