A comparison of two methods for estimating average exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields

Details

• Personal Author:
  Eisen EA ; Kriebel D ; Moure-Eraso R ; Wenzl TB
• Description:
  The results of power frequency magnetic field (MF) measurements with two types of instruments were compared. Estimated exposure averages computed from spot measurements (hand held meter) were compared with average MF exposures derived from data recorded by a datalogging three axis personal monitor worn by a group of machining and assembly workers. The investigation was performed at an automobile transmission facility, in operation since 1943, which employed about 8,000 people. Electrical power was supplied to machine tools via a 440 volt three phase wiring system. It was possible to estimate fractions of time spent at each of several work stations and to measure the MFs at both head and waist for 57 workers. The other 24 workers were in maintenance and other jobs without fixed work stations. Both calculated daily weighted averages (DWAs) and dosimeter measures of central tendency of MF strength showed a wide range of values, reaching two orders of magnitude. Closer agreement was found between the DWA and the datalogger's geometric mean than between the DWA and the arithmetic mean. Demagnetizers were unexpectedly found to be an important source of exposure in some of the jobs. For one cluster of demagnetizers which influenced exposures up to 15 meters away, the power law exponent for falloff with distance was estimated with measurements in four directions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Magnetic Fields Neoplasms Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Radiation Radiation Dosimeters Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Cancer Dosimetry Electromagnetic-radiation Magnetic-fields NIOSH-Grant NIOSH-Publication Occupational-exposure Radiation-exposure Radiation-hazards Radiation-measurement Risk-factors

  More +
• ISSN:
  1047-322X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  125-130
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00225312
• Citation:
  Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1995 Feb; 10(2):125-130
• Contact Point Address:
  Work Environment University of Lowell One University Ave Lowell, MA 01854
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1995
• Performing Organization:
  University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19910101
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  19921231
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a631fceb2b76210ca51964834dd50b508a1e92a885deecccbb4bb9f76d43f70b3defc4acb28e1f140fb8083f16fbc5759890a0705c2cd6a8ba02d6ad343c8709
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203994/cdc_203994_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 772.70 KB ]