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Liu L, Huang B, Lu Y, Zhao Y, Tang X, Shi Y. Interactions between electromagnetic radiation and biological systems. iScience 2024; 27:109201. [PMID: 38433903 PMCID: PMC10906530 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Even though the bioeffects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) have been extensively investigated during the past several decades, our understandings of the bioeffects of EMR and the mechanisms of the interactions between the biological systems and the EMRs are still far from satisfactory. In this article, we introduce and summarize the consensus, controversy, limitations, and unsolved issues. The published works have investigated the EMR effects on different biological systems including humans, animals, cells, and biochemical reactions. Alternative methodologies also include dielectric spectroscopy, detection of bioelectromagnetic emissions, and theoretical predictions. In many studies, the thermal effects of the EMR are not properly controlled or considered. The frequency of the EMR investigated is limited to the commonly used bands, particularly the frequencies of the power line and the wireless communications; far fewer studies were performed for other EMR frequencies. In addition, the bioeffects of the complex EM environment were rarely discussed. In summary, our understanding of the bioeffects of the EMR is quite restrictive and further investigations are needed to answer the unsolved questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyu Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bing Huang
- Brain Function and Disease Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xin-Ling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Yingxian Lu
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yanyu Zhao
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaping Tang
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yigong Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
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Kursawe M, Kaifie A, Krabbe J, Kimpeler S, Kühn R, Kraus T, Jankowiak K. The role of the DC component in human perception of AC-DC hybrid electric fields and a comparison with the AC component. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16320. [PMID: 37770510 PMCID: PMC10539523 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43556-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
As part of the energy transition in Germany, high-voltage overhead power lines will be operated using hybrid systems that combine alternating and direct current (AC and DC). The degree to which humans perceive hybrid electric fields (EFs) is dependent on the proportion of both EF types. To investigate the impact of the DC component, a study assessed 49 participants with above-average EF detection ability under conditions with a low DC component of 1-4 kilovolts per meter (kV/m) and varying AC EFs between 1 and 14 kV/m. The detection thresholds of combined AC/DC EFs decreased with an increase in the DC component and ranged from 9.6 to 6.83 kV/m on average for the group. The results suggest that even minor variations in the DC component significantly affect human perception of hybrid EFs. These findings complement the results of an earlier study that investigated the AC component in hybrid EFs. Correlational analyses of both studies demonstrated the reliability of participants' performance. This study contributes to our understanding of EF-related effects on human perception and can aid in the planning of energy transmission near areas where humans work or live.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kursawe
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Andrea Kaifie
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Julia Krabbe
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Simon Kimpeler
- Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Power Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralph Kühn
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Kraus
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Jankowiak
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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Jankowiak K, Kaifie A, Krampert T, Kraus T, Kursawe M. The role of the AC component in human perception of AC-DC hybrid electric fields. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3391. [PMID: 35233049 PMCID: PMC8888694 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07388-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Electric energy is essential to today’s society. To cope with global higher demand while minimizing land use, efficient high voltage direct current (HVDC) power lines are planned to be mounted on existing alternating current (AC) structures leading to electric fields (EFs) from both AC and DC transmission lines in hybrid configurations. Due to the close proximity to residential areas, the investigation of human hybrid EF perception and underlying mechanisms will be useful to project permitting. To specify the influence of the AC component on the whole-body detection thresholds of hybrid EFs and to explore the lower bound of human hybrid EF perception, 51 participants with an EF detection ability above average were exposed in a double-blind laboratory study. A psychophysical method based on the signal detection theory was used. Very low EF strength combinations, e.g. 1 kV/m AC combined with 1 kV/m DC, were reliably perceived by at least one participant. Detection thresholds were significantly lower with increased AC EF strengths, underlining the key role of the AC component in the human perception of hybrid EFs. Findings will contribute to the assessment of public reaction to the perception of EFs around hybrid overhead power lines and to their optimal designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Jankowiak
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Andrea Kaifie
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Krampert
- Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Power Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Kraus
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Michael Kursawe
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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Kursawe M, Stunder D, Krampert T, Kaifie A, Drießen S, Kraus T, Jankowiak K. Human detection thresholds of DC, AC, and hybrid electric fields: a double-blind study. Environ Health 2021; 20:92. [PMID: 34419058 PMCID: PMC8380375 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00781-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the course of the ongoing transition of electric energy systems, transmission corridors are often upgraded to higher voltages and other technologies leading to another quality of human exposure. The study aims to determine human detection thresholds for direct current (DC), alternating current (AC), and hybrid electric fields (various DC; constant AC). METHODS A total of 203 participants were exposed to DC, AC, and hybrid electric fields (EFs) in a highly specialized whole-body exposure laboratory using a double-blind experimental setting. Additionally, the participants were exposed to ion currents in part of the DC and hybrid sessions. To investigate environmental influences, relative humidity was changed in two subgroups during EF perception. Methods derived from the signal detection theory and the adaptive staircase procedure based on the single interval adjustment matrix were used to assess individual sensitivity and detection thresholds, respectively. RESULTS The results indicated that detection thresholds of hybrid EF were lower compared to single EF presentation of DC or AC. Ion current exposure enhanced EF perception. High relative humidity facilitated DC EF perception, whereas low relative humidity reinforced the perception of AC EFs. CONCLUSIONS With this systematic investigation of human perception of DC, AC, and hybrid EFs, detection thresholds were provided, which can help improve the construction processes of energy transmission systems and the prevention of unwanted sensory perception by contributing to the determination of limit values.
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Grants
- Amprion GmbH, Dortmund, Germany
- TenneT TSO GmbH, Bayreuth, Germany
- TransnetBW GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany
- 50Hertz Transmission GmbH, Berlin, Germany
- Forschungsstelle für Elektropathologie (FfE), Nagold, Germany
- RWTH Aachen University (3131)
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kursawe
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Dominik Stunder
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Krampert
- Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Power Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Andrea Kaifie
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sarah Drießen
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Kraus
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Jankowiak
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction (femu), Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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