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Extremely low frequency magnetic field measurements in buildings with transformer stations in Switzerland

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Authors not listed · 2011

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Apartments directly touching transformer rooms have magnetic field levels six times higher than other units in the same building.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Swiss researchers measured extremely low frequency magnetic fields in 39 apartments located in buildings with electrical transformer stations. They found apartments directly adjacent to transformer rooms had magnetic field levels nearly six times higher (0.59 μT) than other apartments in the same buildings (0.10 μT). The study developed a simple method to classify apartment EMF exposure based on proximity to transformers.

Why This Matters

This study reveals a significant exposure reality that most people never consider: living near building transformer stations dramatically increases your daily EMF exposure. The science demonstrates that apartments directly adjacent to transformer rooms experience magnetic field levels of 0.59 μT - that's nearly 60% of the 1.0 μT level associated with increased childhood leukemia risk in multiple epidemiological studies. What makes this particularly concerning is how common these exposures are. Transformer stations exist in countless apartment buildings, office complexes, and mixed-use developments across urban areas. The reality is that many people unknowingly live or work in these high-exposure zones. This research provides a practical tool for identifying potentially problematic exposures without expensive measurement equipment - simply knowing your proximity to the transformer room gives you critical information about your EMF environment.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2011). Extremely low frequency magnetic field measurements in buildings with transformer stations in Switzerland.
Show BibTeX
@article{extremely_low_frequency_magnetic_field_measurements_in_buildings_with_transformer_stations_in_switzerland_ce1338,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Extremely low frequency magnetic field measurements in buildings with transformer stations in Switzerland},
  year = {2011},
  doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.05.041},
  
}
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.05.041PubMed: 21684576

Quick Questions About This Study

Apartments fully adjacent to transformer rooms measured 0.59 μT on average, compared to 0.10 μT in other apartments within the same buildings. This represents a nearly six-fold increase in magnetic field exposure.
Yes, researchers achieved 64% accuracy classifying high EMF exposure based solely on apartment proximity to transformer rooms. Apartments directly above or wall-to-wall with transformers consistently showed the highest magnetic field levels.
The study measured three distinct exposure levels: 0.59 μT in fully adjacent apartments, 0.14 μT in partially adjacent units, and 0.10 μT in distant apartments within the same buildings.
Researchers measured EMF levels in 39 apartments across 18 different buildings containing transformer stations, using 5-6 meters simultaneously in each room for 10-minute measurement periods.
Yes, apartments that only partially touch transformer rooms at corners or edges averaged 0.14 μT, significantly lower than the 0.59 μT found in apartments directly above or fully adjacent to transformer rooms.