2010 Prius EMF?

I've written about this issue before, and the problem of not having data on the exposures (if there is any increase over a conventional car), which is several steps removed from determining if those exposures carry risk, and the real question: whether those risks outweigh the benefits.

Fortunately now someone with the proper tools has at least measured the fields in a Gen2 Prius so we're one step closer.

G. Schmid et al. from the Austrian Research Centres in Seibersdorf have measured the fields in a Gen2 Prius under various conditions and reported the results at BioEM2009.

They found that near the floor in the backseat the exposure was highest, averaging 10% of the permissable general population exposure according to the ICNIRP guidelines (which are frequency dependent), and could reach 30% in the maximum case (a switch from maximum acceleration to maximum braking). Even just at lap level the exposure is <5% of the guidelines (since children have short legs, this is perhaps the more appropriate measure for the exposure of children in the backseat).

They accounted for the effect of the tires (rotating tires with steel belts/cables in the makeup produces magnetic fields of up to 4% of the guideline exposure), which would be present in all cars. They also compared to some conventional cars -- the Audi A4 and VW Passat comparison cars both had significantly higher exposures than the Prius! In fact, the Audi A4 <em>exceeded </em>the ICNIRP guideline in some conditions. The main source of exposure in those cars was from the air conditioning systems, which are "not as sophisticated" in their electrical management as in the Prius. One factor in particular that they mentioned was that the conventional cars tended to use the chassis as a current return, wheras the Prius has dedicated, shielded wiring loops that return to the battery.

So, the Prius doesn't look to have meaningfully higher magnetic field exposures inside the passenger compartment than conventional cars, and may in fact be lower. Though in a controversial field such as this there are always those that disagree with the guidelines, magnetic field exposures in hybrids are well within the ICNIRP limits. The Gen3/2010 should be similar to the Gen2.

Hopefully that will put your mind at ease, and you'll remember to turn off the SKS, bluetooth, and cellphone while in your new car.

IMHO, this often does more harm than good. The lay public is generally just as afraid of numbers as they are of fields, so getting both may not help.

 

While I am a fan of fuel-efficient hybrids and electric cars, I disagree with those who are close-minded to the possibility that:
1. the EMF levels in hybrids might be higher than in conventional cars.
2. that the type and intensity of EMF in hybrids might be harmful.

While there is no consensus about the above, I think we can at least do the following:
Take measurements in the hybrids, and in conventional cars, and around the home and appliances.
If EMF levels are higher in hybrids compared to the rest, you might install shielding (mumetal) until the EMF levels are better than conventional cars.

I have a Trifield EMF meter 100XE on order now.
I plan to measure my 2006 Prius, a 2010 Estima hybrid, and some conventional cars.

 

I can tell you without measuring a thing that #1 above is true: I can HEAR it every time I turn my AM radio on.

The jury is out on #2 and probably will be for a long time. All I can say is that I keep my tinfoil hat on hand at all times and wear my lead lined undies religiously!

 

Don't forget that 3. IF there are higher magnetic fields and IF those fields are harmful, is the risk outweighed by the benefit?

We don't know if the fields are higher (and from the reliable measurements that have been shared so far, they appear marginally so), we don't know what the risks are, but the benefits are real and measurable.

Before you spend money on a meter, make sure you know what you're looking for, and what to expect. Those Trifield meters are really only good around power line fields (50-60 Hz) and tend to get screwy with other fields... I wouldn't trust them to measure the fields actually present in a hybrid.

Edit: from their website (to give you an idea of what I'm talking about):

 

Hmmm all that time I spent with military radar means I'm totally screwed

Those who raise concerns about the Prius will still use BlueTooth, a wireless router, wireless headphones, etc

 

You don't really expect consistency and logic from ordinary people, do you?

Tom

 

Oops my bad

And Happy Canada Day

 

I doubt that most of the EMF on a Prius is even in the 50-60 KHz range. So the actual field is going to be much stronger than anything indicated on a meter designed to cover power grid EMF.

But even the assumption of damage is wide open. Maybe the EMF is beneficial. There's about as much data that it's good for you as there is that it's bad. Fears get press, while benefits seem to be ignored.

My guess is that it is similar to a noisy environment. Most people don't even notice the usual noise in their environment. But it is amazingly relaxing when you actually get away from all that noise. I remember being inside an extremely quiet lab chamber. It was so quiet that I could hear my heart beat, and some "whooshing" noise that I guess was blood circulation near my ears.

White noise generators are used to mask what would otherwise be disturbing noise. So a low level is useful, but turn it up enough to notice and it's irritating. Personally, I'll take that quiet chamber over being at a stoplight with an overpowering boombox in the car next to me.