What are AC Magnetic Fields?

See below for basics on this type of EMF, including sources in your home and research into the health impacts from exposure. For broader information on all the major EMF types, where they come from, health impacts, and what you can do about it, check out my EMF 101 eBooks.

Where Do AC Magnetic Fields Come From?

Produced by electrical current flow. Any device or appliance that consumes electricity will produce an AC Magnetic Field. The intensity or strength of the magnetic field is directly related to the power consumption of the device. A more powerful device will produce a higher magnetic field. These fields usually remain close to their source (2-3 feet), but can travel several hundred feet in the case of high voltage power lines. AC Magnetic Fields are considered low frequency electromagnetic radiation (5 Hz – 400,000 Hz)

Examples: Home wiring and wiring errors, power lines, electric baseboards, hot water heaters, cooking range, laptop transformer, electric motors (pool/hot tub, HVAC, blenders, fans), vehicles

Videos Showing AC Magnetic Fields in Residential Homes

As an EMF Inspector, I work with clients everyday to identify the EMF profiles in their homes, and how they can be fixed. Click the link above to see my videos on where AC magnetic fields have shown up in their homes.

Do AC Magnetic Fields Impact Health?

See the links below for just a few of the many published studies on the negative health impacts of AC Magnetic Fields

Health risks linked to electromagnetic field exposure

A study of real-world exposure to non-ionizing radiation from magnetic fields in pregnant women found a significantly higher rate of miscarriage, providing new evidence regarding their potential health risks.

Exposure to magnetic fields and childhood leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies

Our results suggest that ELF-MF higher than 0.4 µT can increase the risk of developing leukemia in children, probably acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Prolonged exposure to electric appliances that generate magnetic fields higher than 0.4 µT like electric blankets is associated with a greater risk of childhood leukemia.

Environmental magnetic fields inhibit the antiproliferative action of tamoxifen and melatonin in a human breast cancer cell line

“…environmental‐level magnetic fields can act to modify the action of a drug or hormone on regulation of cell proliferation.”

Translation: an AC magnetic field of 1.2 nanotesla (quite low for a modern home environment) can disrupt drugs and hormones that regulate cell growth. Uncontrolled cell growth is synonymous with cancer.

Brain cancer and occupational exposure to magnetic fields among men

“Our findings support the hypothesis that occupational magnetic field exposure increases the risk of glioblastoma multiforme.”

ELF magnetic fields, breast cancer, and melatonin: 60 Hz fields block melatonin's oncostatic action on ER+ breast cancer cell proliferation

“These results provide the first evidence that ELF frequency magnetic fields can act at the cellular level to enhance breast cancer cell proliferation [rapid increase] by blocking melatonin's natural oncostatic [cancer inhibiting] action.”

What are AC Magnetic Fields?​