Fact sheet N°322
June 2007
Electromagnetic fields and public health
Exposure to extremely low frequency fields
The use of electricity has become an integral part of everyday life. Whenever electricity flows, both electric and magnetic
fields exist close to the lines that carry electricity, and close to appliances. Since the late 1970s, questions have been raised
whether exposure to these extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF) produces adverse health
consequences. Since then, much research has been done, successfully resolving important issues and narrowing the focus of
future research.
In 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the International Electromagnetic Fields Project to investigate
potential health risks associated with technologies emitting EMF. A WHO Task Group recently concluded a review of the
health implications of ELF fields (WHO, 2007).
This Fact Sheet is based on the findings of that Task Group and updates recent reviews on the health effects of ELF EMF
published in 2002 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), established under the auspices of WHO, and
by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in 2003.
ELF field sources and residential exposures
Electric and magnetic fields exist wherever electric current flows - in power lines and cables, residential wiring and electrical
appliances. Electric fields arise from electric charges, are measured in volts per metre (V/m) and are shielded by common
materials, such as wood and metal. Magnetic fields arise from the motion of electric charges (i.e. a current), are expressed in
tesla (T), or more commonly in millitesla (mT) or microtesla (μT). In some countries another unit called the gauss, (G), is
commonly used (10,000 G = 1 T). These fields are not shielded by most common materials, and pass easily through them.
Both types of fields are strongest close to the source and diminish with distance.
Most electric power operates at a frequency of 50 or 60 cycles per second, or hertz (Hz). Close to certain appliances, the
magnetic field values can be of the order of a few hundred microtesla. Underneath power lines, magnetic fields can be about
20 μT and electric fields can be several thousand volts per metre. However, average residential power-frequency magnetic
fields in homes are much lower - about 0.07 μT in Europe and 0.11 μT in North America. Mean values of the electric field in
the home are up to several tens of volts per metre.
Task group evaluation
In October 2005, WHO convened a Task Group of scientific experts to assess any risks to health that might exist from
exposure to ELF electric and magnetic fields in the frequency range >0 to 100,000 Hz (100 kHz). While IARC examined the
evidence regarding cancer in 2002, this Task Group reviewed evidence for a number of health effects, and updated the
evidence regarding cancer. The conclusions and recommendations of the Task Group are presented in a WHO Environmental
Health Criteria (EHC) monograph (WHO, 2007).
Following a standard health risk assessment process, the Task Group concluded that there are no substantive health issues
related to ELF electric fields at levels generally encountered by members of the public. Thus the remainder of this fact sheet
addresses predominantly the effects of exposure to ELF magnetic fields.
Short-term effects
There are established biological effects from acute exposure at high levels (well above 100 μT) that are explained by
recognized biophysical mechanisms. External ELF magnetic fields induce electric fields and currents in the body which, at
very high field strengths, cause nerve and muscle stimulation and changes in nerve cell excitability in the central nervous
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system.
Potential long-term effects
Much of the scientific research examining long-term risks from ELF magnetic field exposure has focused on childhood
leukaemia. In 2002, IARC published a monograph classifying ELF magnetic fields as "possibly carcinogenic to humans".
This classification is used to denote an agent for which there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than
sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity in experimental animals (other examples include coffee and welding fumes). This
classification was based on pooled analyses of epidemiological studies demonstrating a consistent pattern of a two-fold
increase in childhood leukaemia associated with average exposure to residential power-frequency magnetic field above 0.3 to
0.4 μT. The Task Group concluded that additional studies since then do not alter the status of this classification.
However, the epidemiological evidence is weakened by methodological problems, such as potential selection bias. In
addition, there are no accepted biophysical mechanisms that would suggest that low-level exposures are involved in cancer
development. Thus, if there were any effects from exposures to these low-level fields, it would have to be through a
biological mechanism that is as yet unknown. Additionally, animal studies have been largely negative. Thus, on balance, the
evidence related to childhood leukaemia is not strong enough to be considered causal.
Childhood leukaemia is a comparatively rare disease with a total annual number of new cases estimated to be 49,000
worldwide in 2000. Average magnetic field exposures above 0.3 μT in homes are rare: it is estimated that only between 1%
and 4% of children live in such conditions. If the association between magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia is causal, the
number of cases worldwide that might be attributable to magnetic field exposure is estimated to range from 100 to 2400 cases
per year, based on values for the year 2000, representing 0.2 to 4.95% of the total incidence for that year. Thus, if ELF
magnetic fields actually do increase the risk of the disease, when considered in a global context, the impact on public health
of ELF EMF exposure would be limited.
A number of other adverse health effects have been studied for possible association with ELF magnetic field exposure. These
include other childhood cancers, cancers in adults, depression, suicide, cardiovascular disorders, reproductive dysfunction,
developmental disorders, immunological modifications, neurobehavioural effects and neurodegenerative disease. The WHO
Task Group concluded that scientific evidence supporting an association between ELF magnetic field exposure and all of
these health effects is much weaker than for childhood leukaemia. In some instances (i.e. for cardiovascular disease or breast
cancer) the evidence suggests that these fields do not cause them.
International exposure guidelines
Health effects related to short-term, high-level exposure have been established and form the basis of two international
exposure limit guidelines (ICNIRP, 1998; IEEE, 2002). At present, these bodies consider the scientific evidence related to
possible health effects from long-term, low-level exposure to ELF fields insufficient to justify lowering these quantitative
exposure limits.
WHO's guidance
For high-level short-term exposures to EMF, adverse health effects have been scientifically established (ICNIRP, 2003).
International exposure guidelines designed to protect workers and the public from these effects should be adopted by policy
makers. EMF protection programs should include exposure measurements from sources where exposures might be expected
to exceed limit values.
Regarding long-term effects, given the weakness of the evidence for a link between exposure to ELF magnetic fields and
childhood leukaemia, the benefits of exposure reduction on health are unclear. In view of this situation, the following
recommendations are given:
z Government and industry should monitor science and promote research programmes to further reduce the uncertainty
of the scientific evidence on the health effects of ELF field exposure. Through the ELF risk assessment process, gaps
in knowledge have been identified and these form the basis of a new research agenda.
z Member States are encouraged to establish effective and open communication programmes with all stakeholders to
enable informed decision-making. These may include improving coordination and consultation among industry, local
government, and citizens in the planning process for ELF EMF-emitting facilities.
z When constructing new facilities and designing new equipment, including appliances, low-cost ways of reducing
exposures may be explored. Appropriate exposure reduction measures will vary from one country to another.
However, policies based on the adoption of arbitrary low exposure limits are not warranted.
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Further reading
WHO - World Health Organization. Extremely low frequency fields. Environmental Health Criteria, Vol. 238. Geneva,
World Health Organization, 2007.
IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Non-ionizing radiation, Part 1: Static and
extremely low-frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields. Lyon, IARC, 2002 (Monographs on the Evaluation of
Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 80).
ICNIRP - International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Exposure to static and low frequency
electromagnetic fields, biological effects and health consequences (0-100 kHz). Bernhardt JH et al., eds. Oberschleissheim,
International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection, 2003 (ICNIRP 13/2003).
ICNIRP – International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (1998). Guidelines for limiting exposure to time
varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz). Health Physics 74(4), 494-522.
IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee 28. IEEE standard for safety levels with respect to human exposure to
electromagnetic fields, 0-3 kHz. New York, NY, IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2002 (IEEE
Std C95.6-2002).
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