Measured 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields in Swedish and Norwegian residential buildings

A comparative study of 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields in houses and offices in Sweden and Norway has been carried out. The local distribution systems in houses are often different in the two countries. Overall mean levels determined in houses were as follows: E fields 54 V/m (SD=37) and 77 V/m (SD=58) in Sweden and Norway respectively; B fields 40 nT (SD=37) and 13 nT (SD=17) respectively. The difference in the magnetic field levels is considered to reflect larger ground currents in Swedish houses. In offices the fields varied substantially. E fields were of the order of 40 V/m and 15 V/m in Sweden and Norway, while the B fields varied from some nT to over 1 /spl mu/T in both countries. Some reasons for the high office levels were safety ground errors and in-house magnetic field sources.