PROCEEDINGS OF THE 7 INTERNATIONAL ... - Fizika
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 7 INTERNATIONAL ... - Fizika
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 7 INTERNATIONAL ... - Fizika
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MEDICAL PHYSICS IN <strong>THE</strong> BALTIC STATES 7 (2009)<br />
Proceedings of International Conference “Medical Physics 2009”<br />
8 - 10 October 2009, Kaunas, Lithuania<br />
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AT COMPUTERIZED WORKPLACES AND<br />
<strong>THE</strong> IMPACT <strong>OF</strong> ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ON <strong>THE</strong> HUMAN HEALTH<br />
Pranas KANAPECKAS*, Stasys MACIULEVIČIUS*, Alfredas OTAS*, Algis VALYS<br />
,Vytautas PETRAUSKAS*,<br />
Neringa VAIČIŪNAITĖ*<br />
*Kaunas University of Technology<br />
Abstract: Increasing amount of electrical equipment at the work places and at home causes increasing impact of<br />
electrical and magnetic fields on human health. Although the impact of low frequency electromagnetic fields over<br />
human health remains not properly explored and comprehensive evaluated, surrounding electromagnetic fields in the<br />
office environment do not contribute to the well fare being of the office workers.<br />
The impact of electromagnetic fields over human health is discussed in this investigation. Special attention is paid to<br />
industrial frequency electromagnetic field and its harming influence.<br />
Keywords: Electromagnetic field, health problems, Video Display Units<br />
1. Introduction<br />
The statistics shows rapid growth of the computers<br />
number in Lithuania. Also the amount of persons<br />
working with computer is growing too. According to<br />
the data of LIKS (Lithuania Computer Society) there<br />
were approximately 230.000 computers installed in<br />
Lithuania at the beginning of new millennium. The<br />
number of hours spent on computer is tremendous – it<br />
is approximately 65.000 hours per career. Hours under<br />
lightness, limited work space and insufficient<br />
ventilation in some cases could cause serious health<br />
problems.<br />
Analysis of recent publications concerning<br />
electromagnetic field impact over human body shows<br />
that the surrounding electromagnetic field could be a<br />
significant problem and extra attention should be paid<br />
to this.<br />
Industrial frequency harming effects were investigated<br />
very carefully in offices, workplaces and at home.<br />
Results of electromagnetic fields measurements at<br />
computerized workplaces are presented in Table 1[1].<br />
The results of measurements show that metallic<br />
constructions such as, metal pipes and steel<br />
frameworks makes a big influence to intensity of<br />
magnetic field. Engineers and network administrators<br />
should pay attention to these effects by reducing<br />
electromagnetic field as much as possible and creating<br />
safe and comfortable workplaces.<br />
World Health Organization (WHO) published the<br />
information about the influence of low frequency fields<br />
on human body in the report “Electromagnetic fields<br />
and public health”[2]. It was shown that industrial<br />
frequency magnetic fields having magnetic flux density<br />
higher than 0,3- 0,4 μ T could become a cancerogenic<br />
factor for workers during the long working hours [2].<br />
106<br />
Table 1. Results of measuring of the electromagnetic<br />
filed measurements [1]<br />
Persentage Magnetic<br />
Sources of<br />
in flux (50Hz)<br />
electromagnetic workplaces density<br />
radiation<br />
(%) ( μT)<br />
Network cables 47,4 53,3<br />
Comutators (switch) 22,8 33,6<br />
Steel frames 15,6 15,2<br />
Transformers 8,4 8,8<br />
Electricity network 3,5 1,2<br />
Direct curent sources 1,3 3,0<br />
According to the opinion of the World Health<br />
Organization, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parcinson’s<br />
disease, mental problems even the growing number of<br />
suicides are caused by electromagnetic field harming<br />
influence. Due to the possible health risks it is highly<br />
recommended to reduce electromagnetic field radiation<br />
at all human living spaces. Another publication [3]<br />
revealed that the magnetic field of industrial frequency<br />
(50 Hz) having flux density 0,2 -0,4 μ T could be the<br />
main factor causing the appearance of the blood cancer.<br />
Besides, the risk is twice higher for a young people and<br />
children.<br />
Permissible levels of electromagnetic irradiation from<br />
the industrial electromagnetic field (50 Hz) are<br />
presented in a Table 2.