Abstract:
Provided is a method and system for measuring the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a living being at a particular location. Using a clamp meter having a current probe, the probe is applied to an ankle of the living being. Next, a measurement of the current induced by absorption of radiation of the ankle is obtained. A measure of total absorbed radiation can be obtained by first taking the measurement at one ankle of a living being and then at the other ankle(s), and adding the measurements together.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to the measurement of electromagnetic (non-ionic) radiation emanating from power lines and other devices, and, more particularly, to measurement of the electromagnetic radiation being absorbed by human beings proximate to overhead power lines and/or electronic equipment utilizing electrical energy. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Devices for measuring electromagnetic waves and radiated electromagnetic energy in the low frequency (60 Hz), high frequency, very high frequency, etc. ranges throughout the spectrum, including light waves are well known. 
         [0003]    In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,999, which issued Sep. 27, 1994, entitled “Measurement System and Method for Determining the Amount of Electromagnetic Radiation Energy Being Absorbed by Living Beings”, to Brunda, hereinafter, the “Brunda Patent”, included herein by reference in its entirety, described a system and method for measuring the amount of electromagnetic radiation actually absorbed by a person (a.k.a., a “living being”), rather than simply the amount of such radiation in the person&#39;s environment. One complication to the system and method of the Brunda Patent is that the measurement required the use of a ground and multiple readings to be taken. 
         [0004]    The Brunda Patent also provides significant information regarding the negative impact of absorbed radiation on a person, and in particular, low frequency 60 Hz radiation from high voltage power lines as well as electronic equipment using the standard 110 and 220 volt, 60 Hz power. Since the filing of the Brunda Patent, numerous additional studies and references have been performed, with some confirming the negative effects of a person&#39;s exposure to electromagnetic radiation, and even broadening the range of frequencies at which these effects occur. For additional background information on the effects of electromagnetic radiation on human beings, see “ The Universal Plague: Power Line Radiation, Hereditary Diseases, the Unified Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation Energy and Control and the Radiation Limits of Human Beings ”, by Daniel Donald Brunda  DDG LFIBA MOIF IOM AdVSci, PA , ISBN 978-1-4134-3084-4, Library of Congress Control Number 2003096678, hereinafter the “Brunda Publication”, also included herein by reference. 
         [0005]    It is clear from these and other references and studies that electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a living person may have a deleterious effect on their health and well-being. It would therefore be useful to provide for a determination as to the actual amount of such radiation absorbed by a person, and not simply rely on environmental readings of the radiation exposure. 
         [0006]    A table initially published by Underwriter Laboratories and also provided at page 23 of “ The Design of Safe Electric Transmission and Distribution Lines ”, also by Daniel Donald Brunda  DDG LFIBA MOIF IOM AdVSci, PA , ISBN 978-1-4010-8922-1, Library of Congress Control Number 2002096706 provides a short list of observed damages to human beings at different levels of electrical current. This table is reproduced in part here: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 The Effects of Current on the Human Body 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 mA or less 
                 No sensation, not felt 
               
               
                 More than 3 mA 
                 Painful shock 
               
               
                 More than 10 mA 
                 Local muscle contraction, sufficient to cause 
               
               
                   
                 “freezing” to the Circuit for 2.5 percent of the 
               
               
                   
                 population 
               
               
                 More than 15 mA 
                 Local muscle contraction, sufficient to cause 
               
               
                   
                 “freezing” to the Circuit for 50 percent of th 
               
               
                   
                 population 
               
               
                 More than 30 mA 
                 Breathing is difficult, can cause unconsciousness 
               
               
                 50 mA to 100 mA 
                 Possible ventricular fibrillation of the heart 
               
               
                 100 mA to 200 mA 
                 Certain ventricular fibrillation of the heart 
               
               
                 More than 200 mA 
                 Severe burns and muscular contractions, 
               
               
                   
                 heart more apt to stop than to go into fibrillation 
               
               
                 More than a few amps 
                 Irreparable damage to body tissues 
               
               
                 6.26 amps 
                 The Electric Chair (2000 Volts) - 296 Ohms 
               
               
                   
                 (79.4 Joules) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0007]    Thus, there is a need for a system and method for fast and accurate determination of the current induced by electromagnetic radiation being absorbed by a living person. The currently accepted threshold for perception of induced currents in human beings is approximately 1 milliamp. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for measuring the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a living being at a particular location. Using a clamp meter having a current probe, the probe is applied to a body part of the living being. Next, a measurement of the current induced by absorption of radiation of the body part is obtained. 
         [0009]    In one aspect of the invention the current probe is a flexible current probe. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the invention, the method and system provides for a measurement of the total radiation absorbed by a living body by first measuring the current induced in one ankle of the body, then measuring the current induced in the other ankle of body (for a two legged living body) and adding the current measurements together. Thus, I T =I 1 +I 2 ; where I T  is total induced current, I 1  is measurement obtained from the first ankle, and I 2  is the measurement obtained from the second ankle. 
         [0011]    To measure total radiation absorbed for a four-legged living body, add in measurements from the third and fourth ankles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial schematic representation of electromagnetic radiation emanating from overhead power transmission lines and electronic equipment impinging upon a biological equivalent circuit of a living being, which is useful for understanding an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial representation of a living being showing an exemplary system and method for obtaining the radiation absorption measurements, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0015]    The terms “living being” and “person” are used interchangeably herein and refer in general to any living entity having ankles and capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation, without further limitation. 
         [0016]    A low frequency (60 Hz) alternating current transmission system, supplying power to industrial environments, homes, etc. for utilization by different types of equipment, as is well known, radiates electromagnetic fields. The power lines, as well as any electronic equipment utilizing this energy are continuously radiating non-ionizing electromagnetic waves that may be absorbed by living beings in close proximity thereto. Many papers have been written with regard to the effect on living beings, especially on the human body, affected by exposure to these radiated waves. 
         [0017]    The present invention advantageously provides a simple system and method for obtaining measurements of these absorbed electromagnetic waves so that the relative information obtained will be useful in future studies. The earlier studies made on the effects of electromagnetic radiation such as for example the study entitled: “CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF CHILDHOOD CANCER AND EXPOSURE TO 60-Hz MAGNETIC FIELDS”, made by Doctor David A. Savitz, Howard Wachtel, Frank A. Barnes, Esther M. John and Jiri G. Tvrdik published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, copyright 1988 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health (which is incorporated herein in its entirety), did not measure the radiation absorbed by human beings. However, correlation between different studies may be readily made with ease, since a simple method and apparatus is now available to obtain the measurements. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , which shows a pictorial schematic representation of inductive coupling of a biological circuit  10  of a human body  12 , illustrated in block form, from an external electromagnetic field (E w )  14  produced by an overhead power transmission line  16 . The reactive impedance of the body  12  may be represented by Z b . The body power source  17  represented by the symbol V causes a current i to flow in the circuit for the body  10 . 
         [0019]    When the body  12  is introduced into the field  14  by appearing beneath power line  16 , the body  12  experiences an increased electric current flow i′. Inside the body  12 , there takes place a voltage drop V′ to which there corresponds an internal electric field  18  (E i ) that is generally different from the external electric field E w , associated with the field  14 . The body&#39;s surface causes a distortion of the external electromagnetic field  14  with considerable local variations that depend on the curvature radii of the various parts of the living being  10  and on its dielectric characteristics. 
         [0020]    Human beings are sensitive to the electromagnetic field  14  primarily because of the low inductive body impedance, especially in the water, blood, bone, muscle and tissues. Conducting objects placed in the electromagnetic field  14  can modify and enhance the field. The magnitude of the enhancing effect depends on the shape and orientation of the conducting object. For the human body  10  not in contact with ground  18 , the electromagnetic field  14  is enhanced immediately about the head to 15 to 20 times that of the undisturbed field. Approximately one-third of the body current it enters the head. Low bodily impedance Z b  permits the electromagnetic field  14  to induce electrical current i′ in the head and the entire body, the current being conducted throughout the body by the water, blood, bone, muscle and tissues. 
         [0021]    The human brain operates at frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to 300 Hz with high concentrations of electromagnetic radiation at 1 Hz to 51 Hz. The electromagnetic field  14  when at a relatively low frequency is absorbed by the electrical circuits of the brain, the heart and the nervous system of the body  12  and by virtue of the resonant circuits found therein generates circulating currents much greater than the non-resonant parts of the human body  12 . This current i′ caused by the inductive coupling causes the normal electrical control currents of the body (i) to be supplemented (increased) to i+i′ by electromagnetic radiation resulting in the heart rate and blood pressure being disturbed by the added current (i′). 
         [0022]    To define an inductive coupling model for the human body  12  subjected to an electromagnetic field  14  calls for an initial approximation. The presence of a biological equivalent circuit  10  of the human body  12  occurs by an analogy. The electromagnetic field  14  is capable of inducing a current in wires and cables of nearby electrical systems, regardless of the nature of the source or the type of conductor. In the biological equivalent circuit  10  of the human body  12 , blood vessels serve as electric conductor paths (cables), blood serves as one segment of the electrical conductor in the circuit  10 , and interstitial fluid, i.e., the fluid between the cells of tissue, serve as another. Since all tissues are irrigated by blood and interstitial fluid, the entire body can be considered as being made up of predominantly essentially homogeneous conducting material. 
         [0023]    According to this equivalent model, electrical current (i′) is induced in the human body  12  by the intersecting, alternating electric and magnetic fields formed by the radiated electromagnetic field  14  generated by the current I flowing through, for example, the power line  16  or other nearby device, such as, but not limited to, an electric motor or x-ray machine. 
         [0024]    The outer membrane cells have a sufficiently high resistance so that almost all of the current flows around these cells. However, the blood conducting cells and membrane are controlled in part by electric current flow and thus are the sites of a number of physiological processes which are important to cell function. 
         [0025]    The power P b  induced in the head of the body  12  can be determined by P b =(T 2 /Z b )(24.1/ME) 2  (E c /P c ) 2 , wherein ME is a cell or membrane excitation parameter, Z b  is the bodily impedance, T is the transfer function, E c  is the powerline voltage and P c  is the powerline transmitted power. 
         [0026]    The method of transferring the power P b  from the power lines to the head involves treating the body  12  as having an inductive impedance (Z b ) equal to 26 ohms and disposed parallel to the transmission line  16 . For example, the transfer of radiated electrical power from the power line  16  to the “parallel” body  12  having blood vessels, etc. therein, assumed to be the same as the transfer of electromagnetic energy from one power transmission line to an adjacent parallel transmission line, not shown. 
         [0027]    In the electrical equivalent circuit model for power transmission and coupling therein, the natural frequency of approximately one Hertz the human body&#39;s biological equivalent circuit is referred to as f 2 . If we assume that this is the natural biological frequency for the human body  12 , Then acceptable or preferred radiation level for human beings occurs when: 
         [0000]      0 &lt;H   φ &lt;10 uG 
         [0000]      0 &lt;f   2 &lt;1 Hz 
         [0028]    Inductive power coupling transfer function (T) for parallel conductors may be calculated as follows: 
         [0000]      ( I   b ) ind=E   w   /f+ 20 log( I   c   /E   w ) 
         [0000]      ( I   c   E   w )= E   c   Zb/ 12,600ME 
         [0000]      ( I   c   E   w )=24.1/ME=13,200 V(23 ohms)/12,600ME(μw/M)
 
         [0000]        I   c =(24.1/ME)[1/( E   w   /f   2 )]= E   c   /Z   c    
         [0000]        Ec =(24.1/ME)( Z   c   /E   w   /f   2 ) 
         [0000]        P   b   =E   b   2   /Z   b =(24.1/ME)2( E   c   /P   c ) 2 ( T   2   /Z   b );       Where T=E b /E w /f 2 )L
 
From actual measurements the following was obtained:
         
         [0000]      Log  P   b =2 Log  T+ 2 Log( E   w   /f   2 )−Log  Z   b  
 
         [0000]      Log  T= 0.5−(Log( E   w   /f   2 )+1.0]
 
         [0000]      Log  T +Log( E   w   /f   2 )=−0.5
 
         [0000]        T=E   b   /E   w   /f   2 ) L          Therefore, E b =316.2 mv   And Pb=4347 μw, which is not an acceptable level.         
         [0032]    The calculations shown above show that an unshielded 13.2 kv power line at 30 meters provides a radiated power which is not acceptable. An attempt to determine the maximum acceptable power line voltage (4,000 volts) to obtain the acceptable radiation absorption level at 30 meters is shown below: 
         [0000]      ( I   c   Ew ) at 5 kv=5000(23)/12,600−9.13/ME(μw/m)
 
         [0000]      And ( P   b ) at a maximum of 5 kv=(9.13/ME) 2 ( E   c   /P   c ) 2 ( T   2   /Zb ) 
         [0000]      ( P   b )max=43.47 microwatts for  E   c =5000 volts at 30 meters. 
         [0033]    Therefore, it is advisable to obtain readings of the electromagnetic radiation occurring at a particular location where living beings are to be present. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  which shows a human being  12  absorbing radiation from a power line  16  appearing overhead by means of the radiated energy  14  given by the equation: 
         [0000]    
       
      
       P 
       b 
       =E 
       b 
       2 
       /Z 
       b  
      
     
         [0000]    entering the body of the human being  12 . If the living being (human  12 ) is effectively above a common ground  18  by some insulated material  22  e.g. non-conducting rubber shoes, carpeting, etc., etc., then the human being is absorbing the radiated electromagnetic energy. 
         [0035]    An embodiment of the present invention utilizes a Fluke  381  clamp meter  29  manufactured by the Fluke Corporation of Everett, Wash. A flexible current probe  34  is applied around a living being&#39;s ankle and a reading is then taken of the current passing through the ankle. A non-flexible current probe (not depicted) may alternatively be used. Also, another part of the living body may be measured, although the ankles are particularly useful for determining the total absorbed radiation, as will be further explained herein. 
         [0036]    In order to determine the total radiation absorbed by the living being, a measurement may be made at each ankle and the measurements added together (for a two-legged living being). The ankle is a good location at which to measure because ankles have the highest current density, thereby providing limited shielding from the detection instrumentality. 
         [0037]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.