Assessment of non-sinusoidal, pulsed, or intermittent exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields.

The correct assessment of non-sinusoidal, pulsed, or intermittent exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields already is a key issue in the occupational environment while becoming more and more important in the domain of the general public. The method presented provides a simple and safe solution for the assessment of arbitrary field types--including sinusoidal and continuous-wave signals--with frequencies up to several 100 kHz and has already proven its practicability and usefulness for more than 5 years. The concept is based on fundamental laws of physics and electrostimulation and well-established physiological data. It allows for a seamless and easy integration in any standard or guideline dealing with human safety in electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields. A very simple-to-use graphical version allows an easy and fast assessment of the exposure to non-sinusoidal, pulsed, or intermittent low-frequency magnetic fields without introducing a large overestimation of the exposure situation. A computer-based version makes a much more detailed signal analysis possible and can provide useful information for exposure reduction using modifications of the magnetic field's time parameters (e.g., rise/fall times).