Radiofrequency contact currents: sensory responses and dosimetry

The process of setting science-based exposure standards (or guidelines) for radiofrequency (RF) contact current exposure has been disadvantaged by a lack of relevant data. The authors first review the essential features and results of the available studies and illustrate the apparent discrepancies a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiation protection dosimetry 2014-12, Vol.162 (3), p.268-279
Main Authors: Kavet, Robert, Tell, R A, Olsen, R G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Electric Conductivity
Humans
Radio Waves
Radiometry - standards
Sensation - radiation effects
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Summary:The process of setting science-based exposure standards (or guidelines) for radiofrequency (RF) contact current exposure has been disadvantaged by a lack of relevant data. The authors first review the essential features and results of the available studies and illustrate the apparent discrepancies among them. Then, they examine the manner in which current was administered in these studies and suggest as to how the physical relationship of a contacting finger to the current electrode may play a role in affecting sensory thresholds specific to those configurations. A major factor in this analysis relates to whether current density is uniformly distributed across the contact area or whether an electrode's 'edge effects' enhance currents with a net effect of decreasing apparent thresholds, when expressed as the bulk current entering a subject. For an exposure with a clear hazard potential, thresholds of human sensory response to RF currents require further investigation.
ISSN:0144-8420
1742-3406
DOI:10.1093/rpd/nct311