Environmental Health Criteria 69 MAGNETIC FIELDS
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Environmental Health Criteria 69 MAGNETIC FIELDS Please note that the layout and pagination of this web version are not identical with the printed version. Magnetic fields (EHC 69, 1987) INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRITERIA 69 MAGNETIC FIELDS This report contains the collective views of an international group of experts and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation, or the World Health Organization. Published under the joint sponsorship of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation, and the World Health Organization World Health Orgnization Geneva, 1987 The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) is a joint venture of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation, and the World Health Organization. The main objective of the IPCS is to carry out and disseminate evaluations of the effects of chemicals on human health and the quality of the environment. Supporting activities include the development of epidemiological, experimental laboratory, and risk-assessment methods that could produce internationally comparable results, and the development of manpower in the field of toxicology. Other activities carried out by the IPCS include the development of know-how for coping with chemical accidents, coordination of laboratory testing and epidemiological studies, and promotion of research on the mechanisms of the biological action of chemicals. ISBN 92 4 154269 1 The World Health Organization welcomes requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications, in part or in full. Applications and enquiries should be addressed to the Office of Publications, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, which will be glad to provide the latest information on any changes made to the text, plans for new editions, and reprints and translations already available. Page 1 of 144 Magnetic fields (EHC 69, 1987) (c) World Health Organization 1987 Publications of the World Health Organization enjoy copyright protection in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. All rights reserved. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers' products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. CONTENTS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRITERIA FOR MAGNETIC FIELDS PREFACE 1. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES 1.1. Physical characteristics and dosimetric concepts 1.2. Natural background and man-made magnetic fields 1.3. Field measurement 1.4. Biological interactions 1.4.1. Interaction mechanisms 1.4.2. Biological effects of magnetic fields 1.5. Effects on man 1.5.1. Static fields 1.5.2. Time-varying fields 1.6. Exposure guidelines and standards 1.7. Protective measures 1.7.1. Cardiac pacemakers 1.7.2. Metallic implants 1.7.3. Hazards from loose paramagnetic objects 1.8. Recommendations for future research 2. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, DOSIMETRIC CONCEPTS, AND MEASUREMENT 2.1. Quantities and units 2.2. Dosimetric concepts 2.2.1. Static magnetic fields 2.2.2. Time-varying magnetic fields 2.3. Measurement of magnetic fields 2.3.1. Search coils 2.3.2. The Hall probe 2.3.3. Nuclear magnetic resonance probe 2.3.4. Personal dosimeters 3. NATURAL BACKGROUND AND MAN-MADE MAGNETIC FIELDS 3.1. Natural magnetic fields 3.2. Man-made sources 3.2.1. Magnetic fields in the home and public premises 3.2.1.1 Household appliances Page 2 of 144 Magnetic fields (EHC 69, 1987) 3.2.1.2 Transmission lines 3.2.1.3 Transportation 3.2.1.4 Security systems 3.2.2. Magnetic fields in the work-place 3.2.2.1 Industrial processes 3.2.2.2 Energy technologies 3.2.2.3 Switching stations and power plants 3.2.2.4 Research facilities 3.2.2.5 Video display terminals 3.3. Magnetic fields in medical practice 3.3.1. Diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging, and metabolic studies 3.3.2. Therapy 4. MECHANISMS OF INTERACTION 4.1. Static magnetic fields 4.1.1. Electrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic interactions 4.1.2. Magnetomechanical effects 4.1.2.1 Orientation of diamagnetically anisotropic macromolecules 4.1.2.2 Orientation of organisms with permanent magnetic moments 4.1.2.3 Translation of substances in a magnetic field gradient 4.1.3. Effects on electronic spin states 4.2. Time-varying magnetic fields 4.3. Other magnetic field interactions under study 4.3.1. Long-range cooperative phenomena in cell membranes 4.3.2. Localized interactions of external ELF fields with cell membrane structures 5. EXPERIMENTAL DATA ON THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF STATIC MAGNETIC FIELDS 5.1. Molecular interactions 5.2. Effects at the cell level 5.3. Effects on organs and tissues 5.4. Effects on the circulatory system 5.4.1. Linear relationship of induced flow potential and magnetic field strength 5.4.2. Induced flow potentials and field orientation 5.4.3. Dependence of induced blood flow potentials on animal size 5.4.4. Magnetohydrodynamic effects 5.4.5. Cardiac performance 5.5. Nervous system and behaviour 5.5.1. Excitation threshold of isolated neurons 5.5.2. Action potential amplitude and conduction velocity in isolated neurons 5.5.3. Absolute and relative refractory periods of isolated neurons 5.5.4. Effects of static magnetic fields on the electroencephalogram 5.5.5. Behavioural effects 5.6. Visual system 5.7. Physiological regulation and circadian rhythms 5.8. Genetics, reproduction, and development 5.9. Conclusions 6. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TIME-VARYING MAGNETIC FIELDS 6.1. Visual system Page 3 of 144 Magnetic fields (EHC 69, 1987) 6.2. Studies on nerve and muscle tissue 6.3. Animal behaviour 6.4. Cellular, tissue, and whole organism responses 6.5. Effects of pulsed magnetic fields on bone growth and repair 6.6. Conclusions 7. HUMAN STUDIES 7.1. Studies on working populations 7.1.1. Workers exposed to static magnetic fields 7.1.2. Cancer epidemiological studies on workers exposed to ELF electromagnetic fields 7.1.3. Conclusions 7.2. Epidemiological studies on the general population 7.3. Studies on human volunteers 8. HEALTH EFFECTS ASSESSMENT 8.1. Static magnetic fields 8.2. Time-varying magnetic fields 8.3. Conclusions 9. STANDARDS AND THEIR RATIONALES 9.1. Static magnetic fields 9.2. Time-varying magnetic fields 9.3. Magnetic resonance imaging guidelines 9.3.1. United Kingdom 9.3.2. USA 9.3.3. Federal Republic of Germany 9.3.4. Canada 10. PROTECTIVE MEASURES AND ANCILLARY HAZARDS REFERENCES WHO/IRPA TASK GROUP ON MAGNETIC FIELDS Members Dr V. Akimenko, A.N. Marzeev Research Institute of General and Communal Hygiene, Kiev, USSR Dr B. G. Bernardo, Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, Quezon City, Philippines Professor J. Bernhardt, Institute for Radiation Hygiene of the Federal Health Office, Neuherberg, Federal Republic of Germanya Dr B. Bosnjakovic, Ministry of Housing, Planning and Environment, Directorate of Radiation Protection, Stralenbescherming Leidschendam, Netherlandsa Mrs A. Duchêne, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Département de Protection Sanitaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, Francea Professor J. Dumansky, A. N. Marzeev Research Institute of General and Communal Hygiene, Kiev, USSR Professor M. Grandolfo, Radiation Laboratory, Higher Institute of Health, Rome, Italya Page 4 of 144 Magnetic fields (EHC 69, 1987) Dr H. Jammet, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Institut de Protection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (Co-Chairman)a Dr Y. A. Kholodov, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Moscow, USSR Professor B. Knave, Research Department, National Board of Occupational Safety and Health, Solna, Swedena Dr S. Mohanna, Radiation Protection Bureau, Environmental Health Directorate, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Dr M. H. Repacholi, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia (Rapporteur)a Dr R. D. Saunders, National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, Didcot, United Kingdom Professor M. G. Shandala, A.N. Marzeev Research Institute of General and Communal Hygiene, Kiev, USSR (Co-Chairman) Mr J. Skvarca, National Direction of Environmental Quality, Ministry of Health and Social Action, Buenos Aires, Argentina Members (contd.) Mr D. Sliney, Laser Microwave Division, US Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USAa Dr T.S. Tenforde, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Biology and Medicine Division, Berkeley, California, USA Secretariat Dr M. Swicord, Division of Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Rehabilitative Technology, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland (WHO Consultant) Dr P. J. Waight, Prevention of Environmental Pollution, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland (Secretary) Observers Dr Zh.I. Chernaya, A. N. Marzeev Research Institute of General and Communal Hygiene, Kiev, USSR Dr V. Voronin, Centre of International Projects, Moscow, USSR Dr Z. Grigorevskaya, Centre of International Projects, Moscow, USSR Dr T. Lukina, Centre of International