MAGNETIC-FIELD-INDUCED CURRENTS IN THE HUMAN-BODY IN PROXIMITY OF POWER-LINES

Electric currents induced due to 60 Hz magnetic fields in a human body placed in a close proximity of various high voltage transmission line s are computed. A realistic model of the human body from the anatomica l and electrical point of view with resolution of 1.3 cm for the body and 0.665 cm for the head is used. The computations are performed usin g the impedance method. Three representative configurations of high vo ltage transmission lines, namely 500 kV, 138 kV and 25 kV are analyzed . The results indicate that the maximum current densities of the order of 0.2 mu A/cm(2) can be induced in a lineman working on a 500 kV lin e (0.5 m away from closest conductors). A good correlation can be seen between the computed magnetic field in the location of the human body and the induced current densities. The induced currents computed here and estimated from measured magnetic fields in various power line env ironments are compared to those for typical home and office exposures, including appliances.