SIMULACIJA PRODRLOG VNF MAGNETNOG POLJA U LJUDSKO

TELO PRIMENOM METODA KONAČNIH ELEMENATA

A SIMULATION OF ELF MAGNETIC FIELD PENETRATED INTO

HUMAN BODY USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

S. R. Aleksić*, S. S. Ilić*, M. T. Perić*, D. Krstić** and D. Petković**

* Faculty of Electronic Engineering Niš, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14, Niš, Serbia,

e-mail: {as, silic, mika}@elfak.ni.ac.yu
** Faculty of Occupational Safety, Čarnojevića 10a, Niš, Serbia,
e-mail: {dejank, dejan}@znrfak.znrfak.ni.ac.yu

Abstract: In this paper a simulation of ELF magnetic field penetrated into human body is
considered. This problem is modelled using the Finite element method. The proposed human
body model is placed in working and living surroundings wherein the power lines exist. The
obtained results for penetrated magnetic field will be presented graphically. Also, an average
energy density in some human organs will be determined as a parameter, which can be
usually found in the literature.

Keywords: ELF magnetic field, Magnetic flux density, Finite element method.

1. INTRODUCTION

A complete human population is exposed to magnetic and electric field influence of natural
Earth field and HF and RF fields from artificial sources. There is difference in exposure dose
which varieties during the day and season.
Extremely low-frequency (ELF) fields are defined as those having frequencies up to 3
kHz. At these frequencies, the wavelengths in air are very long. Electric and magnetic fields
at this range act independently of one another and are measured independently [1].
ELF fields are produced by a wide variety of products in home and in workplace as
well, such as copiers, power lines, transformers, household appliances, electric trains and
computers.
Over the years, scientists have attempted to prove the ELF interaction theories on living
beings. Strong magnetic fields may cause the DNA damage, which initiate the cancer. On the
other side the electro-equipment manufactures persistently deny this effects existence, al-
though this statistics shows opposite results. Therefore it is understandable why the National
and International agencies have difficulties to form standards for maximal human ELF field
exposure. Anyway further researching is necessary on this subject.
In this paper the human body is modelled using the Finite element method. This model
is placed in working and living surroundings wherein the power lines for electric devices
supplying exist.
 The aim of this paper is to determine the penetrated magnetic field levels into human
body and to initiate the corresponding standard forming, which could regulate this very actual
problem.

2. ELF MAGNETIC FIELD SIMULATION

The human body is modelled using femm software [2], Fig. 1. This software use Finite ele-
ment method for calculation. The human body is considered as an inhomogeneous structure
in the sense of electrical conductivity.
concrete

lighting source mono-phase

supplying conductor supplying cond.
three-phase
brain supplying cond.
air

other tissues

lung+liver

digestive organs

legs
lime mortar

rubber

Fig.1 Human body modelling using femm

This model includes the electrical conductivities of brain, lung and liver, digestive organs
and the other tissues. The electrical conductivities values for these organs are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Electrical conductivity of human organs
Organ σ (S/m)
Brain 0.70
Lung and liver 0.10
Digestive organs 0.03
Legs 0.10
Other tissues 0.02

Since the external ELF magnetic field is of 50 Hz frequency, the human model is consi-
dered as axial symmetrical which doesn’t spoil the results accuracy.
The proposed human body model is placed in working and living surroundings. A hu-
man model height is 1.75m. The room is axial symmetrical with radius of 4m and height of
2.5m. The whole room is made from concrete and the walls are from lime mortar. The human
model shoes have a rubber sole.
In literature, the different values for electrical conductivity of concrete can be found.
Opposite to the electrical properties, the mechanical properties of concrete are well known
[3]. It is supposed that the concrete “grows ripe” for one month. The concrete strength inves-
tigations have been done when the concrete is 28 days old. Unfortunately, the electrical pro-
perties of concrete don’t follow the mechanical properties. The electrical conductivity of con-
crete decreases with the ages from 10 −2 S/m for wet concrete to 10 −9 S/m for dry concrete. In
this paper for the electrical conductivity of concrete is used σ = 10 −3 S/m .
In Table 2 the electrical conductivities of the concrete, the lime mortar and the rubber
are shown.
Table 2. Electrical conductivity
Material σ (S/m)
Concrete 0.0010
Lime mortar 0.0001
Rubber 0.0001

In working and living surroundings the power lines for electric devices supplying exist.
The conductors are modelled as closed circular current loops, which approximately corres-
pond to electric installation system. Also the mono-phase and three-phase electrical devices
supplying (max 6 kW electrical furnaces) and the lighting source supplying are taken into
consideration. It is considered the lighting sources of 800 W, the mono-phase devices of 2 kW
and three-phase devices of 3 kW, 4.5 kW and 6 kW. The current values through the
corresponding supplying conductors for each power are calculated and after that, they have
been used in simulation.

3. NUMERICAL RESULTS

Because of easier presentation of the obtained results, the cha- brain

A
racteristic points on the human body model are denoted in Fig. 2. B G
In this paper the magnetic flux density distribution through the other tissues
following directions will be shown:
a) A − D− F , through the whole body; C H lung+liver
b) A − I− K , at the outside of the body;
c) B− G , through the brain; I
digestive organs
D
d) C− H , through the lung and liver; legs
Using program package femm a mesh of 412592 nodes E J
is created.
rubber
Different combinations of supplying conductors are ta- F K
ken into consideration. In that way a different conditions in the
Fig. 2 Human body model
room depending of season and of daytime it is simulated.
The “worst” case is a winter night when the lighting source is on, the mono-phase elec-
tric devices (e. g. TV, radio etc.) are “on” and the three-phase electrical devices (e.g. electrical
furnaces) are “on”, too. In a summer day the lighting source is “off”, the mono-phase electric
devices are “on” and the three-phase electrical devices are “off”. This is the “best” case.
In Figs. 3-4 the magnetic flux density distributions through the body, brain, lung and li-
ver for these two cases are shown. Considering the mono-phase electrical device-supplying
conductors, two phases (phase 1 and phase 2) are active.
In Fig. 3 a the magnetic flux density distribution through the body (A-D-F direction) is
shown. The magnetic flux density distribution when direction follows the body line (A-I-K) is
shown in Fig. 3 b . It can be noticed that the values in these two figures are almost identical.
 1.1e-006 2e-006
1e-006 |B|, Tesla |B|, Tesla
9e-007 1.5e-006
8e-007
7e-007 1e-006
6e-007
5e-007 5e-007
4e-007
3e-007 0
0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Length, m Length, m
(a) (b)
1e-006 7.388e-007
9e-007 |B|, Tesla |B|, Tesla
8e-007 7.387e-007
7e-007
6e-007
5e-007 7.386e-007
4e-007
3e-007 7.385e-007
2e-007
1e-007
0 7.384e-007
0 0.05 0.1
0 0.05 0.1
Length, m Length, m
(c ) (d )
Fig. 3 Magnetic flux density distribution – “summer day” case

3e-006 3e-006
|B|, Tesla |B|, Tesla
2.5e-006 2.5e-006
2e-006 2e-006
1.5e-006 1.5e-006
1e-006 1e-006
5e-007 5e-007
0 0
0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1
Length, m Length, m
(a) (b)
2e-006 |B|, Tesla 1.109e-006
|B|, Tesla
1.5e-006 1.108e-006

1.107e-006
1e-006
1.106e-006
5e-007
1.105e-006

0 1.104e-006
0 0.05 0.1 0 0.05 0.1
Length, m
Length, m
(c ) (d )
Fig. 4 Magnetic flux density distribution – “winter night” case
 In Fig. 3 c the magnetic flux density level penetrated through the head is shown. The
fluctuations in Fig. 3 d are result of mesh discretization. In this simulation the mesh size inside
the human organs is 1mm. But, the obtained values haven’t a large difference (3rd decimal digit is
different). Using a dot line, an average value of this distribution is presented. In Fig. 4 the magne-
tic flux density distributions in a different human organs for the “worst” case are shown. It is
considered a three-phase device having 4.5 kW. The obtained levels are above 1µ T . In Fig. 4 d
using a dot line an average value of magnetic flux density distribution through the lung and liver
is shown. In Table 3, the average energy densities inside the brain, digestive organs, lung and liver
for different three-phase electrical devices supplying are shown. It is considered the “worst” case,
when the lighting source is “on”, the mono-phase electrical devices of 2 kW exist (phases 2 and 3
are active) and the three-phase electrical devices having the values of 3 kW, 4.5 kW and 6 kW.
Table 3. Average energy density ( J/m 3 )
Three-phase electric devices of
Organs 3 kW 4.5 kW 6 kW
Brain 1.042e-6 1.102e-6 1.164e-6
Lung+liver 5.365e-7 5.894e-7 6.453e-7
Digestive organs 4.122e-7 4.575e-7 5.057e-7

The average energy density inside the certain human organs when the lighting source is
“off”, the mono-phase electrical devices of 2 kW exist, with the active phases 2 and 3, and the
three-phase electrical devices supplying having a different power is shown in Table 4. That is
a “winter day” case. Increasing the power of electric devices, bigger average energy density is
localized in human organs.
Table 4. Average energy density ( J/m 3 )
Three-phase electric devices of
Organs 3 kW 4.5 kW 6 kW
Brain 6.391e-7 6.940e-7 7.513e-7
Lung+liver 4.495e-7 5.009e-7 5.554e-7
Digestive organs 3.620e-7 4.064e-7 4.537e-7

The average energy density for the case when the mono-phase electrical devices of 2 kW
exist, with the active phases 2 and 3, and the three-phase electrical devices are “off”, is shown
in Table 5. The results are shown when the lighting source is: “on” (a “summer night” case)
and “off” (a “summer day” case).
Table 5. Average energy density ( J/m 3 )
Lighting source
Organs “On” “Off”
Brain 3.892e-7 1.242e-7
Lung+liver 1.203e-7 7.384e-8
Digestive organs 8.152e-8 5.660e-8

4. SAFETY STANDARDS

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) recently published a standard
for human exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the range of 0 to 3 kHz. This standard
was developed over several years by Subcommittee III of the IEEE Standards Coordinating
Committee 28 (SCC-28), now known as the IEEE International Committee on Electromagne-
tic Safety (ICES). Other organizations that have developed guidelines for electric and magne-
tic field exposures in this frequency range are the American Conference of Governmental In-
dustrial Hygienists (ACGIH), through its Threshold Limit Values (TLVs); the National Ra-
diological Protection Board (NRPB) in the United Kingdom; and the International
Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), an affiliate of the World Health
Organization (WHO).
In Table 6, the IEEE guideline limits have been compared with that set by ICNIRP,
ACGIH, the NRPB, and the European Union, which recently adopted ICNIRP limits for pu-
blic exposure [4].
Table 6. Standards and guidelines limits for 50/60 Hz magnetic field
IEEE ICNIRP ACGIH NRPB EU
2002 1998 2000 1993 1999
Occupational (whole working day) 2.71 0.42 1.0 1.3 NA
Magnetic field, mT
General public (24 hour exposure) 0.904 0.083 NA 1.3 0.083
Magnetic field, mT

5. CONCLUSION

In this paper the human body placed in working and living surroundings is modelled using the
femm software. This software use Finite element method.
The magnetic flux density distributions through different directions in the human body
are shown graphically. The average energy densities in brain, lung and liver, and digestive or-
gans are shown in the tables. This values are obtained for different combination of electrical
devices supplying and in the case when lighting source is “on” or “off”.
Medical studies have proved the influence of magnetic flux density (around 1nT) to ad-
renal gland. Also, the rat experiments have shown that in rat population, which have been ex-
posed to ELF magnetic field influence, the female number was greater than male number in
next generation and space disorientation and aggressive behaviour has been increased [5]. Be-
cause of that it is very important to determine a safety standards in this area.
Unfortunately, our country doesn’t have it yet, so in this paper the penetrated ELF mag-
netic field influence is considered with an aim to initiate corresponding standard forming.

REFERENCES

[1] Habaash R. W. Y., Electromagnetic Fields and Radiation – Human Bioeffects and Safe-
ty, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York
[2] femm4.0 software (“Finite element method”), http://femm.berlios.de
[3] Vorgučić, A., Promena električne otpornosti betona sa starenjem, I srpski simpozijum iz
primenjene elektrostatike, Niš, Novembar 1984, pp. 15.1-15.8
[4] IEEE Standard for Exposure to Electromagentic Fields, January 2003
[5] Veličković, D. M., Matavulj, M., Pekarić-Nađ, N., Spaić, G., Uticaj EM polja mrežne
frekvencije na ljude, Zbornik radova Jug. konferencije za ETRAN, Bukovička Banja, Jun
2001
[6] Veličković, D. M., Češelkoska, V., Proračun NF EM polja u okolini čoveka, CIGRE,
Herceg Novi, Septembar 2001