318

Bioelectromagnetism

TABLE 7.10 Reference Levels in ICNIRP Guidelines for Current Induced in Any Limb, Averaged over 6 Minutes,

at Frequencies from 100 kHz to 110 MHz

Exposure Scenario

Frequency Range

Electric Current; I (mA)

Occupational

100 kHz to 110 MHz

100

General public

100 kHz to 110 MHz

45

Source: Reproduced from ICNIRP, Health Physics 118:483–524, 2020.

Notes:

1. Current intensity values must be determined by averaging over the relevant square values.

2. Limb current intensity must be evaluated separately for each limb.

3. Limb current reference levels are not provided for any other frequency range.

4. Limb current reference levels are only required for cases where the human body is not electrically isolated from a ground

plane.

and local exposure (6-minute averaging time) in terms of electric feld strength, magnetic feld strength,

and plane-wave-equivalent power density values, for frequencies from 100 kHz to 6 GHz. For frequen­

cies from 6 to 300 GHz, incident power density ERLs are defned (6-minute averaging time, 4 cm² aver­

aging on body surface).

7.9 Conclusion

Te guidelines are revised from time to time as new fndings are obtained on the biological efects of

electromagnetic felds and evaluation methods such as dosimetry. Now that the revision of the guide­

lines for RF electromagnetic felds has been completed, ICNIRP is moving forward with a new efort to

revise the low-frequency guidelines by examining research issues based on current fndings (ICNIRP,

2020b).

Te IEEE/ICES has completed the revision of RF electromagnetic felds in 2019, and will now work on

the revision of electromagnetic felds in the low-frequency range. Te research issues of electromagnetic

felds and contact currents below 100 kHz have already been organized (Reilly and Hirata, 2016). Tere

are three issues: induced current models, electrical stimulation models, and human exposure limit. All

of them are intended to be solved by dosimetry.

References

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