Electromagnetic Fields Exposure Limits
Abstract
The peak (temporal) value of the electric field maximum permissible exposure to high-peak-power ultrashort pulsed electromagnetic fields, 100 kilohertz to 300 gigahertz, of 100 kilovolt per meter was established in 1971 as a provisional limit by the United States Air Force. This limit impacted directed energy systems. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Research Task Group (RTG HFM-189)found this ultra-conservative limit had neither underlying biological mechanism nor adverse health effect to support its existence. A consensus statement recommended eliminating the high-peak-power ultra-short pulsed electric-field exposure limitation. The recommendation was adopted in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard IEEE-C95.1-2345TM-2014, Military Workplaces-Force Health Protection Regarding Personnel Exposure to Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields,0 Hz to 300 GHz, which is covered by the NATO Standardization Agreement 2345 Edition 4, 2015.Contact with metal surfaces energized by exposure to high-frequency emissions can lead to shock and burns. RTG HFM-189 concluded that reductions of contact current limits from 100 to 50 milliampere (IEEE) and to 40 milliampere (European Union Directive 2013/35/EU) were unnecessary (no adverse health effects), unscientific and resulted in unnecessary critical impacts to military operations and were subsequently revised to frequency dependent limits in IEEE-C95.1-2345TM-2014.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1047408
Entities
Organizations
- NATO Science and Technology Organization