MAGNETIC-FIELDS FROM DOMESTIC APPLIANCES IN THE UK

In a survey of 50 UK homes the 50 Hz fundamental and harmonic magnetic fields generated by 806 domestic appliances found in the homes, and u sed regularly by mothers, were measured. Measurements were made in the direction of most likely access, and from the surface of the applianc es. Mothers completed a questionnaire on the use of appliances and wer e monitored for 24 h so that acquired exposure could be compared with the measured ambient fields in the home. Appliances were measured at s tandard distances and an algorithm was used to calculate fields at 100 and 50 cm to remove room background contributions. A few appliances g enerated fields in excess of 0.2 mu T at 1 m: microwave cookers 0.37 /- 0.14 mu T; washing machines 0.27 +/- 0.14 mu T; dishwashers 0.23 +/ - 0.13 mu T; some electric showers 0.11 +/- 0.25 mu T and can openers 0.20 +/- 0.21 mu T. Of continuously operating devices, only central he ating pumps (0.51 +/- 0.47 mu T), central heating boilers (0.27 +/- 0. 26 mu T) and fish-tank air pumps (0.32 +/- 0.09 mu T) produced signifi cant fields at 0.5 m. There were no obvious ways to group different ty pes of appliances as high- or low-strength sources. Mothers spent on a verage about 4.5 h per day in the kitchen, where the strongest sources of magnetic field were located.