Electromagnetic Fields Services

The HPA offers advice relating to human exposure to electromagnetic fields including, where appropriate, measurements and hazard assessments.

Exposure assessments can be carried out to evaluate compliance with exposure guidelines. In many exposure situations, the ICNIRP reference levels for external field strengths may be exceeded whereas detailed measurements and analysis may demonstrate that the underlying more fundamental basic restrictions are met.

Specific approaches to measurement and exposure assessment have been developed by the HPA for a range of exposure situations of varying complexity. These include power generation and distribution, electrochemical industries, transport, induction and dielectric heating, access control and anti-theft devices, mobile and other communications equipment and radar.

Assessments may range from the calculation or measurement of external field strengths for comparison with exposure guidelines to more complex experimental and theoretical dosimetric assessments. HPA has developed anatomically realistic numerical models of the whole body which permit detailed examination of energy deposition in body tissues resulting from exposure to fields from sources covering the range from power frequencies to microwave communications frequencies. This type of investigation has proved valuable in near-field exposure situations for assessing compliance with exposure guidelines where field strength investigation levels are exceeded.

The European Physical Agents Directive on exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields, which was originally scheduled for transposition into UK law by 30 April 2008, has been  postponed until 30 April 2012.

For further information, and requests for measurements and hazard assessments, please contact the Press and Information Group:

Fax: +44 (0)1235 822746
E-mail: ChiltonInformationOffice@hpa.org.uk

Last reviewed: 21 October 2009