SYMPOSIUM ON MEDICAL EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL FIELDS
The symposium was held at the headquarters of the National Science Foundation in Washington, D. C. on October 31, 1973. The following attended:
A. For IEEE Electrical Safety and Life Sciences Committee:
G. G. Knickerbocker Emergency Care Research Institute (Phila)
Martin Singewald (M. D.) John Hopkins Hospital
Donald Gann (M. D.) John Hopkins Hospital
W. B. Kouwenhoven (Hon. M. D.) John Hopkins Hospital
B. J. Ware American Electric Power
Merril Eisenbud Environmental Medicine Lab. NYU
B. For EEI Medical and Health Subcommittee:
Tony E. Branan Georgia Power Company
Raymond W. White Pacific Gas and Electric Company
William F. Betsch (M.D.) Philadelphia Electric Company
W. Harrison Mehn (M.D.) Commonwealth Edison Company
C. N. Irwin, Jr. Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
Thomas J. Doyle (M.D.) Consolidated Edison Company
C. For EPRI-ERC Project UHV:
H. C. Barnes American Electric Power
Dean E. Perry (Also AEP- ASEA UHV Research Project)
Bonneville Power Administration
G. Balderston, Jr. Philadelphia Electric Company
B. D. Miller Detroit Edison Company
L. E. Zaffanella General Electric Company
Don W. Deno General Electric Company
D. For US Government:
Elliot Postow US Navy - Bureau of Medicine
Janet Healer Office of Telecommunications
L. M. Magid National Science Foundation
R. L. Bisplinghoff National Science Foundation
E. Other:
B. Holmgren Swedish State Power Board
A. Nystrom (M.D.) Swedish State Power Board
G. A. Baril Hydro-Quebec
J. P. Markey Edison Electric Institute
E. L. Hunt Battelle-Pacific Northwest Laboratories
1. Opening Remarks
Dr. Ray Bisplinghoff welcomed the attendees and stressed the interest of the National Science Foundation in the subject of the symposium.
2. ERMAC
Dr. Healer outlined the scope of activities of the Electromagnetic Radiation Management Advisory Council (ERMAC). It seemed worthwhile to involve utility representatives in future activities of this group. Unfortunately, and ERMAC meeting was coincident with the symposium and this limited the participation of Drs. Healer and Eisenbud.
3. Soviet Technical Literature
Dr. Knickerbocker advised that he was in the process of translating additional Soviet literature. He outlined the scope of the new literature as follows:
a) A description of a more up to date Soviet meter for measurements of field intensity. (It was generally agreed that meters of reasonable accuracy are presently available and that these could be supplemented by accurate calculations.)
b) Experiments to determine the threshold of sensation for discharges indicate a threshold level of 5.18 kV per meter for 80% of the male subjects tested. These experiments were performed with parallel plate capacitors spaced 4 meters apart. The subjects stood on a sheet of insulating material and contacted a grounded object. Field intensity was measured at head level.
c) A paper describing the influence of working in an electric field on the human organism seemed similar to earlier work. 319 workers involved in the maintenance of 220 kV-500kV transmission lines and substations were tested. In addition, efforts were made to study the work capability of 23 people exposed to field intensities of from 10 to 32 kV per meter. In a similar smaller study the electrical parameter was a current of 160 micoramps from head to foot. In this case, the changes recorded were not as marked as those attributed to the electric field. (This led to some inconclusive group discussion as to whether body current or field intensity was the more significant parameter.) The same Soviet paper discussed experiments where 10 people were exposed to regular or random capacitive discharges at 5-15 kV. Pulse rate, respiratory rate and RS amplitude changes were monitored. There was some indication of an adaptive process in that the parameters monitored showed greater changes below the threshold of sensation that above the threshold.
Dr. Knickerbocker will complete final translations of these papers. In the meanwhile, as was agreed, copies of the Russian originals have been sent to the Swedish attendees.
4. Significance of the Soviet Work
An unanswered question is the level of confidence the Soviets themselves attach to their research. It was agreed that personal contact between Western medical representatives and their Soviet counterparts was essential. A utility delegation from the U. S. will be visiting the Soviet Union in the near future. Mr. Balderston advised that the agenda for the information interchange was set and that the Soviets were very inflexible regarding additions or changes. It might be possible to arrange for Soviet medical personnel to be part of the Soviet delegation scheduled to visit the U.S. for a return meeting next Spring. It was agreed that every effort should be made to arrange this and also that a research rather that a purely medical background was desirable for the people to discuss the subjects with the Soviets. Dr. Gann and other medical attendees stressed the philosophical differences between Soviet and Western medical practices and their belief that we could not rely entirely on Soviet research.
5. EPRI Project
Dr. Gann discussed the EPRI Project on tissue culture research at Johns Hopkins. In general, the results obtained were equivocal and have little relevance to practical human exposure. A field intensity of 20 kV per inch (800 kV/ meter) killed cells in tissue culture in six days. Exposure to 10kV per inch (400 kV/ meter) for two weeks showed no effect.
6. Sanguine Project
Dr. Postow outlined the design parameters for Sanguine which is intended to communicate with submarines. The principle evolves around a loop antenna in the earth and 150 amperes is carried through 50 mile long insulated cables buried about 5 ft. below the earths surface. Ground level field strengths of 0.2 gauss and 0.07 volts per meter are expected just above the antenna. The project has sponsored more than 20 individual investigations ranging from studies of micro-organisms to humans. It is expected that reports on these investigations will become available later this year. Dr. Postow will advise Mr. Barnes of these availabilities.
7. Swedish Research
Mr. Holmgren discussed a project which has just been initiated to check effects resulting from exposure to 25 kV per meter between capacitive plates 2.8 meters apart. Results will be made available upon completion of the work. Dr. Nystrom spoke of a discussion with Professor Haupt of West Germany who had concluded that there was no medical effect due to exposure to fields of 51015 and 20 kV per meter. The Germans had invited Soviet scientists to compare experimental results but the invitation was declined. Mr. Zaffanella mentioned that Professor Prinz of Munich had detected no medical effect at 15 kV per meter.
8. Hydro Quebec
Mr. Baril advised that Hydro Quebec performed periodic medical examinations on all linemen who worked on their 735 kV lines. No ill effects have bee noted to date.
9. Italian Research
Mr. Ware Distributed copies of a paper describing research performed in Turin. The field strength was 100 kV per meter and changes were found in the blood, the heartbeat, and the brain waves of mice, rats and guinea pigs.
10. Project UHV
Mr. Zaffanella advised that field strengths normally ranged from 0 to 18 kV per meter at the project site. Three cows were free to roam around and apparently did not avoid the areas of higher field strength. No gross effects were observed.
11. Inter-group Communications
It was agreed that involvement with the ERMAC group was highly desirable. A representative of the EEI Medical and Health Committee should be appointed to the IEEE Electrical Safety and Life Sciences Subcommittee. The EEI Group requested the reference for the discussions of the original Soviet CIGRE paper #23-06. These discussions are available on pages 24 thru 29, group 23, of Volume 1 of the 1972 CIGRE Transactions.
12. Conclusions
It was agreed that a fairly large scale research project was necessary and should begin immediately. The research strategy should include exposure of animals to determine areas of distinct effect. If such effects are found, their nature would indicate the specific areas requiring more detailed investigation. For example, indications of weight loss in the offspring of exposed animals would suggest detailed research on Y chromosomes. All attendees were asked to consider proper items for research and also the field strength levels at which general experiments should be performed. Suggestions regarding the type and methodology of the experimental programs should be sent to Mr. Barnes.
The meeting adjourned at 2: 30 P. M. approximately.
B. J. Ware, Secretary
Power & Environmental Sciences Committee