Key result
Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure shows no effect on pulse rate.
Why the study?
The effects of 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields on human heart pulse rate were unclear and required investigation.
No acute effect on heart rate from 50 Hz fields in volunteers; leaves open questions on chronic exposure or vulnerable populations.
This investigation studied the effects of 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields on the pulse rate of the human heart. The ECG (electrocardiograms) of 41 male volunteers were recorded with a Holter recorder. Twenty-six subjects were measured in and outside real fields, and 15 subjects were measured in and outside "sham" fields. The blood pressure and EEG (electroencephalogram) were also measured, but this article presents only the results of ECG recordings. The measurements took 3 h. The subjects were first sitting for 1 h outside the fields, then 1 h in the real or "sham" fields, and then, again, 1 h outside the fields. The electric field strength varied from 3.5 to 4.3 kV/m and the magnetic flux density from 1.4 to 6.6 microT. An analysis of the ECG recordings showed that the subjects' pulse rates were the same in and outside the fields. No response occurred when the subjects were exposed to real or "sham" fields.
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Korpinen et al. (1994) studied this question. 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields vs. Sham fields or outside the fields was evaluated on Pulse rate. Exposure to 50 Hz electric (3.5-4.3 kV/m) and magnetic (1.4-6.6 microT) fields resulted in no change in pulse rate among 41 male volunteers compared to sham or no-field conditions.