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Comparison of European policies of low frequency (power frequency for high-voltage power lines) electric and magnetic fields
In 1999, the Council of the European Union published the Recommendation on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) (1999/519/EC). This recommendation is based on the Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz) of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
According to this recommendation the reference values for high-voltage power lines (50 Hertz) are
- electric field: 5 kilovolt per metre (5 kV/m)
- magnetic field: 100 mikroteslas (100 µT)
Within the European Union the European countries handle the "Recommendation" concerning these reference levels in different ways:
Group 1
The "Recommendation" is implemented in national regulations. The reference values defined by the European Union are obligatory. Some European countries postulate additional restrictions.
Country | Reference value electric field (kV/m) | Reference value magnetic field (µT) | Implementation / regulations |
---|---|---|---|
Estonia | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation |
Greece | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation |
Malta | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation |
Austria | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation (implemented in ÖNORM (Prestandard) S1119) |
Portugal | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation |
Romania | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation |
Slovakia | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation |
Czech Republic | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation (State regulation No 480/2000-Protection against non-ionizing radiation) |
Hungary | 5 | 100 | Referenzwerte wie EU-Ratsempfehlung (State regulation No 480/2000-Protection against non-ionizing radiation) |
Cyprus | 5 | 100 | Referenzwerte wie EU-Ratsempfehlung (State regulation No 480/2000-Protection against non-ionizing radiation) |
Additional limitations | |||
Germany | 5 | 100 | The 26th Ordinance for the implementation of the Federal Immission Protection Act applies (reference values according to EU Council Recommendation) For certain power supply and railway installations, it applies that
Precautionary measures: No exceedance of reference values in the vicinity of
When constructing new maximum voltage transmission lines (>220 kV, 50 Hz): no construction of power lines over buildings and parts of buildings designed for permanent stay. |
Belgium (Brussels) | 5 | 100 | short-term oversteppings up to 1000 µT allowed |
Belgium | 10 | OMEN (= places with sensible use) | |
Belgium (Wallonia) | 5/7/10 | - | residential areas/roads/other places |
Belgium (Flanders) | 0,2 10 | - | indoors |
Finland | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation:
|
France | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation Apply only to new or, respectively, modified installations |
Croatia | 5 2 | 100 40 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation OMEN |
Luxembourg | 5 | 100 | Reference values according to EU Council Recommendation Regulations related to the distance of new installations:
|
Group 2
The "Recommendation" of the Council of the European Union is not implemented. There are either higher limits in comparison to the reference values recommended by the European Union, other regulations or no regulations.
Country | Reference value electric field (kV/m) | Reference value magnetic field (µT) | Implementation / regulations |
---|---|---|---|
Bulgaria | - | - | No legal regulations Regulations related to the distance of lines in residential development areas depend on respective operating voltages |
Great Britain | 9 | 360 | No legal regulations National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) recomends5 kV/m (field strength) for the electrical field and 100 microteslas (µT) for the magnetic field. |
Ireland | - | - | No legal regulations |
Latvia | - | - | No legal regulations |
Sweden | - | - | No legal regulations Environmental Code and 1998 legislation If magnetic fields from existing installations differ substantially from the natural background value (0,1 per cent of the EU Council Recommendation’s reference value), they must be reduced at reasonable cost and consequences new installations: consider reduction of exposure already during planning and construction |
Spain | - | - | Prohibition of the installation of new high-voltage lines in the vicinity of residential development areas, schools and public places. |
Group 3
National regulations are stricter in respect to the "Recommendation". They rely on the precautionary principle or they were applied due to requirements of the public for stricter regulations.
Country | Reference value electric field (kV/m) | Reference value magnetic field (µT) | Implementation / regulations |
---|---|---|---|
Denmark | - | - | No legal regulations Utilities measure magnetic fields at new installations: The annual average is not supposed to exceed 0.4 microteslas (µT) no kindergartens or new buildings in the vicinity of a high-voltage line |
Italy | 5 | 100 | Decree of 8 July 2003 (electric and magnetic fields of power lines):
OMEN |
Liechtenstein | - | 1 | Environmental Protection Act of 29 May 2008 (or, respectively, the version amended in 2010) installation reference value: 1 microtesla (µT); to be exceeded by not more than 1.5 times on a maximum of five days a year; systematic and periodic exceedances are not permitted |
Lithuania | 0,5/1 | 10/20 |
|
Netherlands | 5/8 | 0,4/100/120/200 | ICNIRP reference values (U-629/EvR/RA/559-C). Since 2005 recommendation of the "Gezondheitsraad" for newly constructed power lines in sensitive areas:
adaption of existing lines: regulation does not apply (no new line) |
Poland | 1 | 75 | reference values lower than in EU Council Recommendation:
for flats and sensitive areas |
Switzerland | -/5 | 1/100 | Act on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Act (NISV) (1 February 2000) immission limits identical to 26th BImSch. OMEN: Installations built after 1 February are termed "new" and have precautionary emission limits (installation limits).
|
Slovenia | 10/0,5 | 100/10 | OMEN: new and modified installations in the vicinity of flats, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, sanatoriums, playgrounds, parks, areas for recreation, public buildings and places of excursions:
that is, 10 per cent of the EU Council Recommendation’s reference value |
State of 2018.07.04