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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.

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