Induced Body Currents and Hot AM Tower Climbing: Assessing Human Exposure inRelation to the ANSI Radiofrequency Protection Guide

摘要

The report documents the results of a study of the radiofrequency (RF) currentsinduced in individuals who climb energized AM broadcast towers for such purposes as tower maintenance. Information is needed on such currents in order to quantify the absorption of RF energy by tower climbers and to compare this absorption to levels allowed by such RF safety standards as the American National Standards Institute 1982 radiation protection guide. In the study, data on induced currents were obtained using two different AM towers, with electrical heights of 0.23 and 0.53 wavelengths, respectively. A theoretical analysis of the electric fields near the towers showed that induced body current could be correlated with the radial component of the electric field. These results were consistent with those of an earlier study performed by the FCC and the EPA. Based on the study a number of conclusions were reached relative to the question of RF absorption on live AM towers.