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Ukrainian study proposes setting power line protection zones by magnetic field rather than electric field

September 26, 2026 (EMFS)
Sep 2, 2026 (original)
Source: Electrical Engineering & Electromechanics
Source category: Research
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Rozov and colleagues at Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences (Electrical Engineering and Electromechanics, 2026) argue that Ukraine's sanitary protection zones for 0.4-330 kV overhead power lines are set solely by electric field strength, while the magnetic field penetrates further and should be the determining criterion. Combining theoretical and experimental studies of magnetic flux density outside current right-of-way zones against the regulatory level of 0.5 microtesla, they substantiate widening protection zones from today's 20 m to 30 m for 110 kV lines and 83 m for 330 kV lines. The paper also develops "magnetically clean" power line designs based on vector field compensation for critical areas when older lines are modernized.
Note: The 0.5 µT criterion is Ukraine's national limit for power-frequency magnetic fields in residential buildings. The international ICNIRP reference level for the public at 50 Hz is 200 µT, while a few countries set precautionary limits far below it: the Netherlands 0.4 µT, Switzerland 1 µT, Italy 3 µT. IARC classifies power-frequency magnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B), based on childhood-leukemia studies at average exposures around 0.3-0.4 µT.

"In Ukraine, the current sanitary protection zones (SPZ) and right-of-way (ROW) zones of overhead power lines (OHLs), within which the construction of residential buildings is prohibited, are established by regulatory legal acts solely based on the criterion of electric field (EF) strength, without taking into account magnetic field (MF) flux density."

— Rozov et al., Electrical Engineering & Electromechanics

"This situation poses a serious threat to the health of the population living near OHLs, since, unlike the EF, the MF has a significantly higher penetrating capacity and, under conditions of long-term exposure, exhibits carcinogenic properties."

— Rozov et al., Electrical Engineering & Electromechanics

"The necessity of establishing the SPZ width at 30 m for 110 kV OHLs and 83 m for 330 kV OHLs is substantiated."

— Rozov et al., Electrical Engineering & Electromechanics

"The synthesis of «magnetically clean» OHLs based on the method of vector MF compensation has been performed."

— Rozov et al., Electrical Engineering & Electromechanics

Location

📍 Kharkiv, Ukraine

Map: Kharkiv, Ukraine

Source

Justification of sanitary protection zones for 0.4-330 kV overhead power lines based on magnetic field exposure and normalization of its levels eie.khpi.edu.ua

📄 Underlying Research

Justification of sanitary protection zones for 0.4-330 kV overhead power lines based on magnetic field exposure and normalization of its levels

Rozov VY, Dumanskyi VY, Pelevin DY, Kundius KD (2026) Electrical Engineering & Electromechanics Journal Level 1ⓘ

🔗 DOI

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