A comparison of 60 Hz uniform magnetic and electric induction in the human body

• Published in: Physics in medicine & biology 1997-12, Vol.42 (12), p.2319-2329
• Main Authors: Dawson, Trevor W, Caputa, Kris, Stuchly, Maria A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Computer Simulation; Effects of various physical factors on living matter (vibrations, electric field, ultrasound, sound...); Electric Stimulation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Magnetics; Male; Models, Theoretical; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
• ISSN: 0031-9155; 1361-6560
• DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/42/12/001

High-resolution computations of induced fields are used to assess equivalent source levels for human exposure to uniform low-frequency electric and magnetic fields. These results pertain to 60 Hz foot-to-head electric excitation of the body in three positions with respect to a ground plane, and to magnetic excitation by three orthogonal source orientations. All computations are based on an anatomically derived human body model composed of 1736873 cubic voxels with 3.6 mm edges. The data for magnetic excitation are computed using a scalar potential finite difference (SPFD) method, while those for electric excitation are computed using a hybrid method based on the SPFD method coupled with a quasistatic finite difference time domain code. The data are analysed in two ways, using an induced current density threshold of 1 mA m-2. Firstly, the various field strengths required to produce a whole-body average current density magnitude equal to the threshold are derived for each configuration, and the associated current density levels in various organs and tissues are presented. It is found that the average current density magnitude values in at least one tissue group can be up to 3 (5) times greater than the whole-body average under electric (magnetic) excitation, and that the associated maximum values can be up to 46 (28) times greater than the whole-body average under electric (magnetic) excitation, for at least one source/body configuration. Secondly, the data are analysed from the opposite point of view, in which the source levels required to induce average or maximum induced current density magnitudes at the threshold level in specific tissue groups are determined. Evaluations such as the present one should prove useful in the development of protection standards, and are also expected to aid in the understanding of results from various animal and tissue culture studies.