RF exposure during use of electrosurgical units Electromag.
Liljestrand B, Sandström M, Hansson Mild K. · 2003
View Original AbstractSurgeons' hands experience RF exposures 25 times higher than safety guidelines during electrosurgery procedures.
Plain English Summary
Researchers measured radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields around electrosurgical units (devices used in surgery to cut and seal tissue) operating at 0.3-1 MHz frequencies. They found that surgeons' hands are exposed to electric fields exceeding 15,000 volts per meter and magnetic fields of 16 microtesla during typical use. These exposure levels are 25 times higher for electric fields and 4 times higher for magnetic fields than international safety guidelines recommend.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a significant occupational EMF exposure that most people never consider. Surgeons using electrosurgical units face RF field exposures that dramatically exceed international safety guidelines during routine procedures. The electric field exposure of 15,000 V/m is particularly striking, as it's 25 times higher than the recommended limit of 610 V/m at this frequency. What makes this research important is that it demonstrates how certain professional activities can create intense, localized EMF exposures that far surpass what most of us encounter in daily life. While the study doesn't investigate health outcomes directly, the fact that occupational exposures routinely exceed safety guidelines raises questions about long-term effects on surgical staff who use these devices regularly throughout their careers.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.016 mG
- Source/Device
- 0.3–5 MHz and 0.3 to 1 MHz
Exposure Context
This study used 0.016 mG for magnetic fields:
- 800x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 160x above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The aim of this study is to investigate RF exposure during use of electrosurgical units Electromag.
In this study we have measured the levels of RF fields near the lead wires of two electrosurgical un...
Using those measurements as a base, the calculated local exposure of the surgeon's hand was estimate...
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2003_rf_exposure_during_use_1154,
author = {Liljestrand B and Sandström M and Hansson Mild K.},
title = {RF exposure during use of electrosurgical units Electromag.},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1081/JBC-120024622},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1081/JBC-120024622},
}