Measurements of Ankle Specific Absorption Rate and Body-to-Ground Current in a Suit-Protected Human Model for Near-Field Exposures, 2–400 MHz

Abstract The potential usefulness of a protective-suit ensemble to reduce specific absorption rate (SAR) at submicrowave frequencies was studied using a full-sized, muscle-equivalent human model. In the past, such suits were used predominantly for microwave protection, but some highly conductive suits presented a very real fire hazard when arcing was considered. Suits made from partially conductive fabric were slightly less effective against microwaves but were much less flammable; moreover, their performance against other radiofrequencies (RFs) has not been studied. Recently promulgated exposure standards have imposed theoretical maximum body-currents to limit extremity SAR to 20 W/kg and have impacted certain occupational environments such as those surrounding RF transmitting towers and RF heat sealers. In the present research, reactive near-field irradiation conditions were used at 2.025 and 29.9 MHz, and quasi – near-field conditions were used at 80.0 and 400.0 MHz. Nonperturbing thermal probes were u...