THERMAL IMPLICATIONS OF HIGH SARS IN THE BODY EXTREMITIES AT THE ANSI-RECOMMENDED MF-VHF SAFETY LEVELS

Surface-temperature elevation of the wrist and the ankle sections were measured for a healthy human subject at room temperature (22-25 degree C) for a variety of RF currents and SARs (specific absorption rate) in the frequency band 1-50 MHz. The observed highest rates of temperature increase in degree C/min are given by the best-fit relationships: 0. 0045 multiplied by SAR in W/kg for the ankle section and 0. 0048 multiplied by SAR for the wrist section, the latter being involved for conditions of contact with ungrounded bodies like cars, trucks, fences, etc. Since ankle-section SARs on the order of 182-243 W/kg and wrist-section SARs as high as 1045 W/kg have previously been projected for the E fields recommended in the ANSI C95. 1-1982 safety guide, fairly high rates of temperature increase are anticipated.