IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATORS IN MAGNETIC FIELDS OF A 400 KV SUBSTATION

Workers using an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are classified by European Directive 2013/35/EU as being at particular risk because of the potential interference between implanted medical devices and electromagnetic fields. The aim of the study was to investigate ICD function using a human-shaped phantom in high magnetic fields of a shunt reactor at a 400 kV substation. We used the phantom in the following experiment periods: isolated from the ground, grounded by a foot, or grounded by a hand. We performed five ICD tests using five different ICD devices. In experiment place A, the magnetic field was over 1000µT, and in experiment place B, the exposure was over 600µT. We did not find any disturbances in the ICDs. However, we conducted only 5 ICD experiments in real exposure situations at 400 kV substations. Although it is not possible to draw a strong conclusion regarding risk level, the risk of such ICD disturbances from magnetic field exposure at 400 kV substations does not appear to be high.