Effects of 60-Heartz electric and magnetic fields on implanted cardiac pacemakers. Final report. [Hazards of power transmission line frequencies]

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5729932

Bridges, J E; Frazier, M J

The effects of 60-Hz electric and magnetic fields of exta-high voltage (EHV) transmission lines on the performance of implanted cardiac pacemakers were studied by: (1) in vitro bench tests of a total of thirteen cardiac pacemakers; (2) in vivo tests of six implanted cardiac pacemakers in baboons; and (3) non-hazardous skin measurement tests on four humans. Analytical methods were developed to predict the thresholds of body current and electric fields capable of affecting normal pacemaker operation in humans. The field strengths calculated to alter implanted pacemaker performance were compared with the range of maximum electric and magnetic field strengths a human would normally encounter under transmission lines of various voltages. Results indicate that the electric field or body current necessary to alter the normal operation of pacemakers is highly dependent on the type of pacemaker and the location of the implanted electrodes. However, cardiologists have not so far detected harmful effects of pacemaker reversion to the asynchronous mode in current types of pacemakers and with present methods of implantation. Such interferences can be eliminated by using advanced pacemakers less sensitive to 60-Hz voltages or by using implantation lead arrangements less sensitive to body current.

• Research Organization: IIT Research Inst., Chicago, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5729932
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EA-1174
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARDIAC PACEMAKERS
PERFORMANCE
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
APES
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HZ RANGE
IMPLANTS
IN VITRO
IN VIVO
ISOLATED VALUES
MAN
ANIMALS
DATA
DATA FORMS
FREQUENCY RANGE
HAZARDS
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects