EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT IN THE VICINITY OF WIND TURBINES

Abstract

Background: There is an exponential growth of public concern worldwide regarding the exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by wind turbines. The high concern of the general population enhances the fact that EMF exposure remains a crucial issue that demands specific actions and reliable data to evaluate possible health hazards.

Materials and methods: EMF exposure measurements were conducted in two wind farm (W/F) areas in Greece. The magnetic field strength concentrated in the proximity of 22 wind turbines (20 type of Gamesa Eolica Siemens of total power of 17 MW and 2 type of E53 Enercon, 800 KW each). Measurements were conducted using a Narda-NBM-550 basic unit (Narda Safety Test Solutions Company) using EHP-50F probe. The EMF exposure measurements were processed applying the weighted peak method (WPM), according to the 2013/35/EU Directive. WPM provides correction of the measured value of pulse signals, taking into account the phases of the various frequency components. The data were classified under two scenarios of EMF exposure: 'high wind' and 'low wind' conditions.

Results: The variation of the magnetic field strength was calculated between 1.13 and 1.42% (WPM). Measurements indicate that the intensity of the emitted magnetic field at the base of the wind turbines, in both high and low wind conditions, was relatively low (mean = 0.146 μT), while decreasing rapidly with increasing distance and reaching background values 6 m from the base.

Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that EMF levels are similar or even lower compared to those in urban areas and well below the national and international safety limits.