Posted on May 19, 2021 May 19, 2021

The journal Bioelectromagnetics has published an article by femu and co-authors entitled: “Identification of Environmental and Experimental Factors Influencing Human Perception of DC and AC Electric Fields”. As part of the energy transition in Germany, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines producing DC electric fields (EF) are in planning. Since the human perception of DC EF was rarely investigated in the past, the aim of the study was to investigate human perception of direct current (DC) EF, alternating current (AC) EF, and the co-exposure of DC EF and AC EF (hybrid EF). A highly sophisticated exposure lab was built to expose participants to various EF strengths and to control environmental and experimental factors influencing the human perception. Perception thresholds were lower under hybrid EF exposure than under DC EF or AC EF exposure alone. Relative humidity could be identified as an environmental factor influencing the perception of AC EF and DC EF in different ways. Cutaneous sensations evoked under DC EF and AC EF exposure were individually different and attributed to various parts of the body. Several environmental and experimental factors influencing the human perception of EF could be identified and provide an essential basis for a large-scale study.

The article can be found in the EMF-Portal, in PubMed and on the Bioelectromagnetics homepage.