The prospect that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) may foster disease is an alarming thought-one which raises such questions as: What are these invisible forces? How are they produced? Is there conclusive evidence that they are harmful to the human body? How do we protect ourselves against possible harm from them? This book addresses these and other questions about magnetic fields, bringing together in a single reference source the scientific background, current status of health research, and means to reduce the impact of EMFs in our environment. Important information is provided for developing policies and procedures related to human interaction with magnetic fields. The authors describe the concept of prudent avoidance, emphasizing its value as a tool in the design, construction, and valuation of homes, offices, retail facilities, and factories. The book provides theory, computer simulation results, measured data, and recommendations for magnetic field management, all of which are useful as a power system design and construction resource. The authors have compiled an impressive summary of the studies, findings, and reports done in the past 15 years in the areas of human health effects which might be attributed to exposure to power frequency magnetic fields. Wherever appropriate throughout text, the authors provide examples to illustrate concepts and include end-of-chapter exercises (with solutions) to help readers solidify their understanding of the material presented. Originally designed as a textbook, this is also an excellent reference in the areas of environmental engineering, city and regional planning, and electrical engineering.

Since the 1970s, concerns about health hazards associated with electric and magnetic fields from power lines and from workplace, school, and household use of electricity have led to many studies and continued controversy about whether adverse health effects occur. In the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-486), Congress authorized a focused national research program to study the possible health effects of exposure to low-intensity, 60-hertz electric and magnetic fields. In response to this legislation and at the request of the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Research Council established a committee under the Board on Radiation Effects Research (BRER) in the Commission on Life Sciences (CLS) to aid in its review of the power-frequency magnetic field research activities completed under the Electric and Magnetic Fields Research and Public Information Dissemination (EMF-RAPID) program that was authorized by the Energy Policy Act. The Research Council's Committee to Review the Research Activities Completed Under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) was asked to review the EMF-RAPID program implemented by DOE and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and research strategies suggested by other federal and nonfederal groups.

This report was prepared by the Office of Technology Assessment of the United States Congress to review the health effects of high-voltage transmission lines. For about two decades, there has been some concern about the health effects of electric and magnetic fields produced by transmission lines. Recent studies have heightened this concern. Health effects research is still preliminary and inconclusive, but a growing number of studies suggest that under certain circumstances even relatively weak electric and magnetic fields can produce biologic changes.This report discusses the present state of knowledge on the health effects of low-frequency electric and magnetic fields and describes current U. S. funding levels and research programs. Also, the report provides information on regulatory activity, including existing and proposed field exposure standards.

The major emphasis of this book is on physical mechanisms and sources of the ULF/ELF natural electromagnetic fields noises. In the course of this text, some of these mechanisms of magnetospheric origin will be treated in detail and others in a more sketchy fashion, while the global electromagnetic resonances excited by lightning activity and other sources are the priority. The interested reader is referred to the books cited in the text for details about the ULF/ELF fields of magnetospheric origin. Much emphasis is put on studies of electromagnetic phenomena caused by rock deformation/fracture including the ULF/ELF effects possibly associated with tectonic activity, earthquakes and other natural disasters. One of the challenges of this research is to fully understand electromagnetic effects and physical processes in the rocks deep in the Earth’s crust.