Health effects of extremely low-frequency (50 and 60 Hz) electric and magnetic fields

The author provides assistance to the scientific and technical community in putting the subject into perspective while the furor in the media over health effects of low-frequency fields abates. The voltages and currents generated within the human body are detailed. The values of directly applied voltages and currents that occur when a person comes into contact with energized conductors, which are hazardous to humans, are compared with the nonhazardous induced voltages and currents. An overview of the animal, cell, and human research and the epidemiological studies is presented. The positions taken by the various concerned groups are indicated. The existing standards and values that have been developed by consensus groups are presented. Continuation of research is advocated.>