Uncertainties in the calculation of continuous exposure of general public to magnetic field from ac overhead transmission lines

The ever-growing concern of population about the risks associated with electromagnetic fields from power systems (and in particular from overhead transmission lines) emphasizes the importance of a proper determination of continuous exposure of human beings to power frequency magnetic fields. Possible uncertainties and errors in the calculation of continuous exposure of the general public to magnetic field from ac overhead transmission lines are investigated and discussed in this work, resorting to both an analytical treatment and numerical applications. The analysis highlights that an accurate evaluation of exposure that is really representative of typical operation of the lines requires not only the availability of measuring instruments, line databases and computer codes for field calculation, but also the knowledge of fundamentals of power system operation.