WHO/IARC ELF magnetic field association threshold (0.3–0.4 µT)
The average daily exposure level above which pooled epidemiological studies report an association with childhood leukaemia, and the basis for the IARC Group 2B classification of ELF magnetic fields.
Guidelinesensitive50/60 Hz
Last verified 12 August 2026.
- Limit value
- 0.3–0.4 µTMeasured range — Pooled analyses of residential exposure epidemiology cited by WHO and IARC. — 0.3–0.4 µT = 3–4 mG. This is an epidemiological association, not an established causal threshold, and is far below all regulatory limits.sources: who-elf, iarc-monograph-80
- Quantity
- magnetic flux density
- Frequency band
- 50/60 Hz
- Population
- sensitive
- Set by
- WHO ELF evidence framework (2007 assessment, factsheet current)
- Kind
- Guideline — scientific recommendation
Sources
- who-elf Electromagnetic fields and public health: exposure to extremely low frequency fields — World Health Organization, 2007. government, link checked 2026-08-12.
- iarc-monograph-80 IARC Monographs Volume 80: Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part 1: Static and Extremely Low-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields — International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2002. peer-reviewed, link checked 2026-08-12.
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