Among home appliances, electromagnetic waves emitted from IH electric rice cookers were found to be the strongest. In particular, the strongest electromagnetic waves were emitted during the heating time for about 10 minutes after the rice cooker was operated. However, it meets the electromagnetic wave protection standards and is harmless to the human body.
On the 28th, the Ministry of Science and Technology and Information and Communication announced that they all met the electromagnetic wave human protection standards as a result of measuring and analyzing the amount of electromagnetic wave exposure to 13 kinds of household appliances and 1394 living environments including bus terminals and large shopping malls.
![An electric rice cooker displayed in a large home appliance store in downtown Seoul [뉴스1]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202012/28/9f9a7f50-d914-4c11-bb45-854b152af1a7.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
An electric rice cooker displayed in a large home appliance store in downtown Seoul [뉴스1]
IH electric rice cooker has the highest electromagnetic wave among 13 kinds of home appliances
13 kinds of household appliances include essential home appliances such as electronic piano, humidifier, dehumidifier, hair dryer, IH electric rice cooker, etc., and product sterilizers, air sterilizers, dishwashers, and winter use that have increased interest due to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). They include hot water mats, hot air fans, electric cushions, electric mats, and electric radiators.
The amount of electromagnetic waves generated by most products was only 1 to 2% of human protection standards. However, in the case of the IH electric rice cooker, the intensity of electromagnetic waves increased by up to 25% compared to the human body protection standard during the heating time. To reduce exposure to electromagnetic waves, it is better not to get close to the IH rice cooker immediately after cooking. During the rest of the cooking time or in the warm state, electromagnetic wave emission fell to a level similar to that of general home appliances (1-2%).
The amount of electromagnetic waves generated by a hair dryer that needs instantaneous heating was slightly higher at 5.42% of the human protection standard. Excluding electric mats (2.71%) and dehumidifiers (1.18%), the amount of electromagnetic waves generated by household appliances was less than 1%.
![An ultraviolet sterilizer in use at a beauty salon in Mapo-gu, Seoul. It was found that the electromagnetic wave emission of such a product was less than 1%. [뉴스1]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202012/28/c6db5fec-900e-4553-bc75-cddcb7613468.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
An ultraviolet sterilizer in use at a beauty salon in Mapo-gu, Seoul. It was found that the electromagnetic wave emission of such a product was less than 1%. [뉴스1]
Mobile communication 4G base station electromagnetic waves, stronger than 5G base stations
Electromagnetic waves emitted from living environments such as apartment complexes, villa villages, and large shopping malls were 1 to 3% of human body protection standards. In the case of mobile communication base stations, which are considered representative sources of electromagnetic waves, the intensity of electromagnetic waves emitted from the fourth generation (G) base stations (1 to 3%) was measured to be higher than that of 5G base stations (1 to 2%). The intensity of electromagnetic waves from TV stations other than mobile communication base stations, wireless routers, and public Wi-Fi was insignificant, around 1% compared to the human body protection standard.
The results of this electromagnetic wave measurement will be published in the’Electromagnetic Waves in Living’ website of the National Radio Research Institute and the’Electromagnetic Safety Information’ data room on the Korea Radio Agency’s website.
Reporter Park Hyung-soo [email protected]