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Information Profile: Magnetic Fields

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Science Information Services Department · 1978

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Early technical analysis of magnetic fields laid groundwork for understanding how electrical technology creates unnatural electromagnetic exposures.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1978 technical report by the Franklin Institute examined magnetic fields as physical agents, focusing on both natural geomagnetic fields and those generated by electrical technology. The report provided foundational technical analysis of magnetic field characteristics and their interactions with biological systems during the early period of EMF research.

Why This Matters

This Franklin Institute report represents a crucial piece of early EMF research history, produced just as scientists were beginning to recognize that our electrical infrastructure might pose biological risks. The timing is significant - 1978 was when the first epidemiological studies linking power lines to childhood leukemia were emerging, making technical understanding of magnetic field properties essential for public health assessment.

What makes this report particularly relevant today is its focus on both natural geomagnetic fields and technology-generated magnetic fields. The reality is that we've dramatically altered our magnetic environment since 1978, with magnetic field exposures from power lines, appliances, and electronics now thousands of times stronger than Earth's natural magnetic field. This early technical foundation helped establish the scientific framework we still use to understand how artificial magnetic fields differ from the natural electromagnetic environment humans evolved within.

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_g5197,
  author = {Science Information Services Department},
  title = {Information Profile: Magnetic Fields},
  year = {1978},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The Franklin Institute produced a technical report analyzing magnetic fields as physical agents, examining both Earth's natural geomagnetic field and magnetic fields generated by electrical technology, providing foundational scientific understanding.
The late 1970s marked the beginning of serious scientific concern about EMF health effects, as early epidemiological studies were suggesting links between power line magnetic fields and childhood leukemia.
Modern electrical devices and power systems create magnetic fields that can be thousands of times stronger than Earth's natural geomagnetic field, representing a dramatic change in our electromagnetic environment.
Power lines, electrical panels, motors, transformers, and high-current appliances like hair dryers and electric shavers typically generate the strongest magnetic field exposures in daily life.
Magnetic field exposures have increased dramatically due to expanded electrical infrastructure, more household electronics, and higher power consumption, creating unprecedented artificial electromagnetic environments in homes and workplaces.