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Assessment of Public Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields by Overhead Power Transmission Lines: A Case Study

Law Puong Ling, Awangku Abdul Rahman, Azhaili Baharun and Ngu Lock Rei

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 15, Issue 1, January 2007

Keywords: Kilovolts, electromagnetic fields, milliGaus

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Data collection of the electromagnetic fields (EMF) produced by 33KV and 132KV power transmission lines were carried out in August 2003 at 3 different locations in Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. All readings were taken at a slope distance of 3.5m, 7m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m, and 40m, respectively from the power lines. The EMF values measured from the three locations of 33KV and 132KV lines were averaged to obtain the mean values of each distance from the power lines. For the 33KV power lines, it was found that the mean EMF values were 8,608 milliGauss (mG) at 3.5m away, 4,972mG (7m), 785.5mG (10m), 114.3mG (l5m) , 41.6mG (20m), 6.1mG (30m) and 0.2mG (40m). For the 132KV power lines, the mean EMF values were greater than 20,000 milliGauss (mG) at 3.5m, 10,1612mG (7m), 4,164mG (10m), 1,720mG (l5m), 802mG (20m), 139mG(25m), 9mG (30m), and 0.9mG (40m) . The normal standard height of both 33KV and 132 KV power lines are 12 m above ground level and an easement width of 20 m on both sides of the power lines, and human activities generally occur at a distance greater than 50m (slope distance) from the power lines. It was found that the EMF produced by both 33KV and 132KV power transmission lines do not pose adverse health effects on the public who are generally exposed to EMF levels below 4.0 mG.

ISSN 1511-3701

e-ISSN 2231-8542

Article ID

JST-0523-2004

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