Survey of public exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields in the dwellings

Background: Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) are generated from indoor electrical appliances and wiring. In 2002, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified ELF magnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). Therefore, the aim of this study as the first ever study conducted in Tehran was to survey the public exposure to ELF magnetic fields in dwellings, in 2018. Methods: In this study, 102 houses were selected using convenience sampling method. The magnetic field was measured based on the IEEE std 644-1994 standard using TES-1393 EMF tester. Spot measurements were done in three different rooms including kitchen, living room, and bedroom of each residential. Results: The average value of measurements taken in dwellings was 0.1 µT. There was a significant difference between total value of magnetic flux density and background level of magnetic flux density among 102 dwellings. There was also a non-significant difference among magnetic fields collected from kitchen, living room, and bedroom. The ELF magnetic fields collected from television and computer in different distances present that MFs decrease rapidly with increasing distance from the source. Conclusion: According to the statistical analysis, the average value of ELF magnetic field in Tehran, Iran, is the same as the recommended value provided by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).