ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to time Varying electric, magnetic and Electromagnetic fields (Up to 300 GHz)

The main objective of this publication is to establish guidelines for limiting EMF exposure that will provide protection against known adverse health effects. An adverse health effect causes detectable impairment of the health of the exposed individual or of his or her offspring, a biological effect, on the other hand, may or may not result in an adverse health effect. Studies on both direct and indirect effects of EMF are described, direct effects result from direct interaction of fields with the body, and indirect effects involve interactions with an object at a different electric potential from the body. Results of laboratory and epidemiological studies, basic exposure criteria, and reference levels for practical hazard assessment are discussed, and the guidelines presented apply to occupational and public exposure. Guidelines on high-frequency and 50/60 Hz electromagnetic fields were issued by IRPA/INIRC in 1988 and 1990, respectively, but are superseded by the present guidelines which cover the entire frequency range of time-varying EMF (up to 300 GHz). Static magnetic fields are covered in the ICNIRP guidelines issued in 1994 (ICNIRP 1994).