The Comparison of Approaches to Power Frequency Electromagnetic Field Hygienic Regulations

Power frequency electromagnetic fields are the risk factor for occupational and general public health. International and national electromagnetic safety guidelines set the exposure limit values and have some significant differences. The goal of this paper is to compare Russian hygienic norms with ICNIRP guidelines, EU Directive requirements for 50 Hz electromagnetic fields occupational and general public exposure, analyze and demonstrate the principal differences. The protection from harmful human electromagnetic field effect is based on principles: protection by time, protection by distance and protection by protective equipment. Various hygienic regulations use different approaches to the human harmful effect definitions therefore there are distinctions of electromagnetic fields permissible limit values in International and national electromagnetic safety standards and guidelines. ICNIRP guidelines and Directive EU regard safety limits only from short-term, acute effect. Chronic electromagnetic field exposure harmful effect threshold is a basis for Russian hygienic norm. These thresholds are defined as a results of biomedical complex researches. Protection by time principle is realized in Russian hygienic norms, which are strong time dependent for occupational exposure. It is the main distinctive characteristics from International hygienic guidelines and is based on chronic exposure harmful human health effect threshold definition and electromagnetic field cumulative effects concept. Russian permissible limit value (25 kV/m) may be higher than ICNIRP (10 kV/m) and Directive EU (20 kV/m) levels, but is limited by working time (no more than 10 min per day). In Russia for general public permissible limit values are graded according to possible exposure time per day.