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Standards on Static and ELF Electric and Magnetic Fields and their Scientific Basis

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Biological Effects and Dosimetry of Static and ELF Electromagnetic Fields

Part of the book series: Ettore Majorana International Science Series ((PRIP))

Abstract

With advances in technology and the ever greater demands to distribute power, the potential for human exposure to static and extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields has increased to the point that valid questions are raised concerning safe limits of exposure. Regulatory agencies must make themselves aware of the adverse biological effects that have been reported and make appropriate evaluations of these effects in terms of human health risk (Repacholi, 1984). Threshold exposure levels for causing adverse health effects must be ascertained. If regulatory action is considered, safety factors are incorporated into these thresholds, the size of which depends on the precision with which the biological effects data allow the thresholds to be determined. If no threshold exposure level to produce adverse health effects is apparent, decisions must be made on the exposure level which provides an acceptable health risk, taking into account the benefits derived from the technology utilizing these electromagnetic fields.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia

    Michael H. Repacholi (Chief Scientist)

Authors
  1. Michael H. Repacholi
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Superior Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

    M. Grandolfo

  2. The University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA

    S. M. Michaelson

  3. National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Frascati, Italy

    A. Rindi

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© 1985 Plenum Press, New York

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Repacholi, M.H. (1985). Standards on Static and ELF Electric and Magnetic Fields and their Scientific Basis. In: Grandolfo, M., Michaelson, S.M., Rindi, A. (eds) Biological Effects and Dosimetry of Static and ELF Electromagnetic Fields. Ettore Majorana International Science Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2099-9_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2099-9_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9243-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2099-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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