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Information Profile - Magnetic Fields

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Science Information Services Department · 1978

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This 1978 report established early scientific documentation of magnetic fields from electrical technology as measurable environmental agents.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1978 technical report from Science Information Services examined magnetic fields as physical agents, covering both natural geomagnetic fields and those from electrical technology. The document appears to be an information profile cataloging magnetic field sources and characteristics during the early development of electromagnetic field research. This represents foundational work in understanding magnetic field exposure from the growing electrical infrastructure of the late 1970s.

Why This Matters

This 1978 technical report marks an important milestone in EMF research history, coming at a time when scientists were just beginning to systematically catalog magnetic field exposures from our expanding electrical infrastructure. The timing is significant because 1978 was still early in the recognition that everyday electrical technology could create meaningful magnetic field exposures for the general population. What makes this document particularly relevant today is that it represents the foundation of our understanding of magnetic fields as environmental agents, covering both the Earth's natural geomagnetic field and the artificial fields from power lines, appliances, and electrical systems that were becoming ubiquitous in homes and workplaces. The reality is that many of the magnetic field sources profiled in this 1978 report have only intensified in the decades since, making this early scientific groundwork increasingly important for understanding our current exposure landscape.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Science Information Services Department (1978). Information Profile - Magnetic Fields.
Show BibTeX
@article{information_profile_magnetic_fields_g4073,
  author = {Science Information Services Department},
  title = {Information Profile - Magnetic Fields},
  year = {1978},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The report examined both natural geomagnetic fields from Earth and artificial magnetic fields generated by electrical technology and power systems that were becoming common in the late 1970s.
1978 marked early systematic documentation of magnetic fields as environmental agents, occurring as electrical infrastructure expanded rapidly but before widespread recognition of potential health implications from everyday exposures.
An information profile is a technical document that catalogs and characterizes physical agents like magnetic fields, providing foundational data on sources, characteristics, and measurement approaches for scientific reference.
Earth's geomagnetic field is relatively constant and weak, while artificial magnetic fields from electrical technology can vary dramatically in strength and frequency, often exceeding natural background levels.
Power transmission lines, electrical appliances, motors, transformers, and other electrical infrastructure were the primary sources of artificial magnetic fields documented in this early research period.