Human exposure to electric and magnetic fields from RF sealers and dielectric heaters - A COMAR Technical Information Statement

Radio frequency (RF) sealers and dielectric heaters, operating between 3 an d 100 MHz, are used for a variety of industrial applications. There is conc ern about the safety of such devices because measurements during operation often show leakage of electric and magnetic fields, as well as induced curr ents in the body, that exceed RF exposure guidelines. Both the leakage of f ields and the absorption of RF energy by an operator can be reduced by shie lding, proper grounding of the sealers, isolation of the operator from grou nd, and increasing the distance between the sealer and the operator. Severa l national and international standards now include limits on body-to-ground and contact currents for humans. Based on present knowledge of the biologi cal effects of RF fields and the reported exposures from such devices, COMA R recommends that the leakage field strengths from RF sealers and dielectri c heaters, as well as body-to-ground and contact currents, be monitored and exposure to workers be limited so as to meet the recommended RF exposure g uidelines.