Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 6,December 1997[Citation in PubMed] [Related Articles]

Radiofrequency Exposure NearHigh-voltage Lines

Maurizio Vignati and Livio Giuliani

Istituto Superiore Prevenzione e Sicurezza del Lavoro, Rome,ItalyIntroductionData Transmission by Conveyed WavesInduced Currents in Human TissuesTechniques of MeasurementValues of RF Induction Measured under High-voltageLinesImplications for Radiation ProtectionImplications in Epidemiologic StudiesConclusions

Abstract

Many epidemiologic studies suggest a relationship betweenincidence of diseases like cancer and leukemia and exposure to50/60 Hz magnetic fields. Some studies suggest a relationshipbetween leukemia incidence in populations residing nearhigh-voltage lines and the distance to these lines. Otherepidemiologic studies suggest a relationship between leukemiaincidence and exposure to 50/60 Hz magnetic fields (measuredor estimated) and distance from the main system (220 or 120V). The present work does not question these results but isintended to draw attention to a possible concurrent cause thatmight also increase the incidence of this disease; the presenceon an electric grid of radiofrequency currents used forcommunications and remote control. These currents have beendetected on high- and medium-voltage lines. In some cases theyare even used on the main system for remote reading of electricmeters. This implies that radiofrequency (RF) magnetic fieldsare present near the electric network in addition to the 50/60 Hzfields. The intensity of these RF fields is low but the intensityof currents induced in the human body by exposure to magnetic

fields increases with frequency. Because scientific research hasnot yet clarified whether the risk is related to the value of magnetic induction or to the currents this kind of exposureproduces in the human body, it is reasonable to suggest that thepresence of the RF magnetic fields must be considered in thecontext of epidemiologic studies. --

Environ Health Perspect

105(Suppl 6):1569-1573 (1997)

Key words

: radiofrequency radiation, induced currents,conveyed waves, power lines, magnetic fields, epidemiologicstudies

This paper is based on a presentation at the InternationalConference on Radiation and Health held 3-7 November 1996in Beer Sheva, Israel. Abstracts of these papers were previouslypublished in

Public Health Reviews

24(3-4):205-431 (1996).Manuscript received at

EHP

28 February 1997; accepted 19May 1997.Address correspondence to Dr. M. Vignati, Istituto SuperiorePrevenzione e Sicurezza del Lavoro, Via Urbana 167, Rome00184, Italy. Telephone: 39 6 471 4243. Fax: 39 6 474 4017.E-mail:vignatimz@etruria.netAbbreviations used: RF, radiofrequency; EMF, electromotiveforce; IRPA, International Radiation Protection Association; µT, microtesla; nT, nanotesla; pT, picotesla.

Introduction

The Istituto Superiore Prevenzione e Sicurezza del Lavoro(Rome, Italy), where we work, is under the Ministry of Healthand is concerned with research on safety in workplaces. Inaddition Institute investigators are called on as expert witnessesfor state organizations and in civil and criminal courts. Theexperience we have acquired experimentally indicates thatradiofrequency (RF) magnetic fields are emitted from powerlines. The frequencies we have observed vary from 112 to 370kHz. The emissions are stable in frequency and are amplitudemodulated by unintelligible signals. These RF fields have beendetected near high-voltage lines (150-380 kV) using along-wave radio receiver. It was also possible to measure theirintensity. At first there was some doubt about the origin of thesemagnetic fields: It was first hypothesized that corona anddisturbances caused by load interruptions might be responsiblefor the excitation of the resonant frequencies of the lines. It was

even hypothesized that RF currents generated by fluorescentlamps might somehow travel backward toward the high-voltagelines. All these hypotheses have been discarded. Corona andload interruptions produce a wide spectrum of frequencies,whereas the emissions we identified are of constant frequencyand are amplitude modulated. The idea that RF currentsattributable to fluorescent lamps might travel backward wasproven to be technically impossible.

Data Transmission by Conveyed Waves

Based on information we obtained from other institutions butthat is still incomplete, we concluded that the RF magneticfields we identified were due to the lines being used for datacommunication systems. These systems are based on so-calledconveyed waves that are produced when an RF generator feedsa transmission line out of tune.An inductor is wired between the 50/60 Hz power generatorand the line to obtain the desired impedance and RF currentflow over the line. A condenser is used to couple the RFgenerator to the line.Recently our Institute received a letter from Ente NazionaleEnergia Electtrica, the Italian electricity company,whichreferred to a specific case in which the company admits usingtransmissions on power lines (

). The letter also specifies powerand frequencies. According to these data, transmission power isset to 10 W for each channel. This information is insufficient,however, to give a quantitative idea of the phenomenon becausethe line impedance at the working frequency should also begiven. lndeed, the most useful information to be determinedwould be the value of RF magnetic induction near high-voltageconductors. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the RFcurrent that flows in these conductors rather than the RF power.According to information still to be confirmed, the RF currentvalue should be around 10 mA. Frequencies used in thisspecific case range from 104 to 288 kHz. According to furtherinformation from Soreq NRC, Radiation Safety Division (

),160 and 400 kV Israeli lines are used to transfer information.The frequency range is 30 to 450 kHz, maximal transmissionpower 20 W, each signal no more than 10 W, line impedance400 ‡, and RF current 150 mA. These data might lead one toconclude that this phenomenon is negligible in terms of possiblehealth effects, but we will show that this is not true.