Modeling the effect of adverse environmental conditions and clothing on temperature rise in a human body exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2015 Feb;62(2):627-37. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2014.2362517. Epub 2014 Oct 13.

Abstract

This study considers the computationally determined thermal profile of a fully clothed, finely discretized, heterogeneous human body model, subject to the maximum allowable reference level for a 1-GHz radio frequency electromagnetic field for a worker, and also subject to adverse environmental conditions, including high humidity and high ambient temperature. An initial observation is that while electromagnetic fields at the occupational safety limit will contribute an additional thermal load to the tissues, and subsequently, cause an elevated temperature, the magnitude of this effect is far outweighed by that due to the conditions including the ambient temperature, relative humidity, and the type of clothing worn. It is envisaged that the computational modeling approach outlined in this paper will be suitably modified in future studies to evaluate the thermal response of a body at elevated metabolic rates, and for different body shapes and sizes including children and pregnant women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Temperature Regulation / physiology
  • Body Temperature Regulation / radiation effects*
  • Clothing*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Fever / etiology
  • Fever / physiopathology*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Humidity
  • Male
  • Models, Biological*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radio Waves / adverse effects
  • Whole-Body Irradiation / adverse effects*