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Magnetic Fields in Cars: The Role of Tires
EAEC-07/CV03-3

Authors

Stefan Stankowski - Berne University of Applied Sciences
Karl Meier-Engel - Berne University of Applied Sciences
Andreas Kessi - Berne University of Applied Sciences

Abstract

Keywords: magnetic fields, tires, exposure

In our laboratories near Biel (Switzerland), magnetic fields in cars have been tested under a variety of conditions, in order to check for possible health risk for the driver and other passengers. Measurements were done at rest, with the motor spent or idle, and with the car rolling on public roads at different speeds. In the latter case, care was taken to avoid those roads where environmental fields could play a role, e.g. by the presence of power lines. During these tests, an unexpected result became rapidly obvious: By far the largest contribution was provided by the tires. Several findings pointed to the tires as the source of the measured fields: First, field intensities were largest in the positions closest to the tires (drivers or co-drivers foot position and back seat, respectively). Fig. 1 shows the measuring spots used. Of these, positions 1 and 2 (driver's pelvis and head, respectively) will not appear in the study presented, because field values there were consistently very low.

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