Impact of Power-Line Communication Radiation on Human Health

Abstract

The advent of smart electrical grids (Smart-grids) has created the need for a reliable communication system within traditional electrical grids. Many technologies are available on the market for communication in smart-grids environment. Communication using PLC (Power-Line Communication or power-line carrier) technology is by far the best choice for operators of these smart-grids, because it uses the electrical cables already in place as a communication link. Unfortunately, since the electrical grid (frequency = 50/60 Hz) was not designed for the transport of high-frequency signals, in PLC mode (100 kHz - 30 MHz) the electrical cables behave like antennas and emit electromagnetic radiation in the nearby environment. This work is a contribution in the evaluation of electromagnetic radiation impact of PLC technology on human health. According to ICNIRP (International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection), this type of assessment in done base on SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) and ∆T (tissue temperature raising during exposure to radiation). PLC cables radiation SAR and ∆T are confront with ICNIRP-limits (Guidelines). In order to cover many exposure scenario, interaction between the radiation of an Outdoor-PLC cable and a human head have been analyze using analytical approach (Maxwell equations) and numerical approach (simulation with Feko software). These analyses have demonstrated that exposure to Outdoor-PLC cable electromagnetic radiation is not harmful to human being. For a long-term exposure of human head to PLC cable electromagnetic radiation, The SAR is less than 1nW/Kg and ∆T under 10-5 °C (Far from ICNIRP limits). Analyses have also produce a simplified expression of PLC cable electromagnetic radiation SAR base on Biot-&-Savart law.