NTL Record

Title Safety of High Speed Guided Ground Transportation Systems: Review of Existing EMF Guidelines, Standards and Regulations
Record ID 49301
Personal Name
Creator
Goellner, Don; Wilson, Barry; Reiter, Russel; Pilla, Arthur
Source 74p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator United States. Environmental Protection Agency
Corporate
Contributor
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Railroad Policy and Development
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
Publication Date 19930801
Language English
Abstract To assess the state of knowledge about anticipated electric and magnetic field (EMF) exposures from electrical transportation systems, including electrically powered rail and magnetically levitated (maglev), research concerning biological effects of EMF exposure, with special emphasis on broad spectrum or broadband magnetic fields, was reviewed. A primary objective of this report was to consider the potential for adverse health effects from maglev associated EMF. Because maglev technology is known to generate magnetic fields at a variety of frequencies, this document addresses the broadband frequency characteristics (including pulses, intermittent fields, and other transient phenomena). One objective of this review was to consider whether, based on present knowledge, exposure to maglev associated magnetic fields would warrant any special consideration related to possible adverse health effects. There may be unique combinations of ac and dc fields associated with maglev operation, but there is no evidence that such combinations have any special properties in terms of their potential biological effects. From currently available occupational epidemiologic data for electrical transport workers, available clinical and laboratory data on EMF biological effects, and available information on maglev generated magnetic fields, the report concludes that maglev is not likely to represent greater risk, if any, than that from electrical transport systems already in use.
Rosap ID dot:10760
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10760
TRT Terms Crash exposure; Electromagnetic fields; Magnetic levitation; Railroad electrification; Guidelines; Epidemiology; Regulation; Safety; Standards; Health hazards
General Subjects Exposure
Classification AGR - IMPACTS - Environment;
AGR - IMPACTS - IMPACTS;
NTL - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - Rail Energy and Environment;
NTL - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Energy and Environment;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - High Speed Ground Transportation;
NTL - LAWS AND REGULATIONS - LAWS AND REGULATIONS;
NTL - LAWS AND REGULATIONS - Rail Laws and Regulations
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number DOT-VNTSC-FRA-93-15; DOT-FRA-ORD-93-27
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/49000/49300/49301/DOT-VNTSC-FRA-93-15.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository