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References

HOUSE EQUIPMENT & ELECTRIC FIELDS

Background: Every time there is an electric difference of potential, an electric field is created. This field can involve static electricity or an electric current.

This field has intensity, which is proportional in the tension of the current. Its intensity quickly decreases when going away from the source. The more materials are conductive the more they propagate the electric fields which surround them. In practice, in a house there are electric fields linked to all the electric cables of distribution, as well as in the devices they are connected to.

Effects on the health: The scientific studies do not really concern the weak electric fields, which we find in houses. However, the risks for higher values are known: increase of the risk of leukaemia, decrease of the rate of melatonin, which weakens the immune systems and the confusions of biorhythms, as well as neurovegetative problems: sleep, concentration, migraine, loss of memory, fatigue, stress, depression etc.

Ways to resolve the problem: Electric fields are eased or stopped by most of the non-conducting materials, it is also possible to use armoured cables and to link the armour plating with the ground to eliminate any electric field.

It is necessary to link with the ground all the conductive materials: metal armatures of the house, and naturally all the household electrical devices. It is necessary to avoid all the useless extra lines of the electricity network and to disconnect after use the devices, which are only used occasionally.

It is necessary to check that switches cut well the line of phase in the fixed installations (E.g. ceiling lights) and to set up bipolar switches which cut both lines for all other devices the sense of connection of which is not indicated.

Finally, it is possible to put on the electrical panel of the PAS (power automatic switches), which cut automatically the current of the line when there is no consumption. This device is particularly adapted for bedrooms. In every case, even if the device is switched off, if the line of phase is not cut, the electric field is always there.

Important: electric fields are the easiest to stop, contrary to magnetic fields described in the next page. The problem is not to know how to protect ourself but to use the electrical energy in a rational way.

For example, an electric cooking surface is going to emit a very intense field from which it will be necessary to move away from a distance of at least 1m50 to take out of fields... But it is not very practical to cook 1m50 away from the cooker, isn’t it? It is necessary to remember that all the modes of electric heating, whether it is to warm the house or food, generate powerful fields and thus are potentially dangerous.

These fields cannot be minimized because they are part of the device functions. In addition, the electrical energy has a ridiculous return to produce some heat (it is a law of thermodynamics), the best choice thus consists in not using these devices, to the benefit of a more sensible heating (wood, gas, solar energy etc.) and of gas cooker.  On what depends the value of the electric field?

1. The value of the electric field (in volts per metre: V/m) is proportional in tension (in volts): under a high-tension line, the electric field is very intense (several thousand V/m). Inside houses, the tension of electric installations is generally 240 volts. It is possible to find electric fields there up to 250V/m.

2. The electric field decreases with distance from the source.

3. The importance of electric fields depends on the nature of the materials which constitute these devices and also materials which surround these devices and the electric cables.