WHO as a Scientific Reference for EMF Exposure in Automotive Environments

As more electric and hybrid cars replace traditional gas-powered models, questions have started to emerge not just about fuel efficiency or emissions, but about something less visible: electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

These fields come from the batteries, inverters, and other electronic subsystems inside the vehicle. Electrified vehicles (BEVs/HEVs/PHEVs) can generate both low-frequency (ELF) and higher-frequency (RF) radiation (source: PMC Study by Gryz et al. (2022)). With this shift, the World Health Organization (WHO) has become a key reference point. WHO plays a central role in gathering research, setting guidelines, and helping health agencies understand the possible risks from these kinds of exposures, including those that might occur inside a car.

The World Health Organization: Mission and Relevance

The WHO is the global health agency of the United Nations. Its job includes evaluating risks to health, both from diseases and from environmental exposures. One of its long-standing areas of focus is non-ionizing radiation, which includes the types of electromagnetic fields present in electric vehicles (see WHO EHC 238).

For decades, WHO has reviewed data from many studies on how EMFs may affect the human body. It works closely with scientific committees like ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre to shape public safety guidelines. These partnerships have helped to form a scientific framework that countries use to assess health risks from modern technologies, including wireless devices, power lines, and, more recently, EVs and their chargers.

WHO’s Position on Electromagnetic Fields

The WHO considers exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields as a potential health issue. This frequency range is the same one most relevant to electric and hybrid cars. In its main technical report on the subject (Environmental Health Criteria 238), WHO outlines several possible effects of ELF exposure, which include:

• Effects on the brain and behaviour
• Possible problems with fertility or fetal development
• Immune system alterations
• Epidemiological evidence linking long-term ELF exposure to cancer, especially childhood leukemia

Although the full biological mechanisms are still under investigation, WHO finds that current evidence is strong enough to recommend caution. In particular, it points out that long-term, low-level exposure may carry risks that aren’t immediately obvious.

The WHO’s review includes both thermal (heating-related) and non-thermal effects. Non-thermal considerations are especially relevant inside vehicles, where occupants (particularly drivers and children) may spend long periods close to high-current electrical components even when exposures remain below legal limits.

WHO and EMF Exposure from Vehicles

Electric and hybrid cars generate electromagnetic fields (EMFs) as a result of how they operate. These fields come from several sources: the battery, power electronics (like inverters), the motor, and onboard communication systems. The types of fields involved include extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and higher-frequency radiofrequency (RF) emissions.

WHO supports the use of dosimetry models that simulate how humans absorb EMF inside cars. These models are used to estimate exposure levels and compare them to existing health guidelines. In some situations (particularly near the inverters, cables, or under the floor), magnetic field levels can exceed 20 to 30 microtesla (μT). These values are significantly higher than what is typically found in homes or offices and need to be interpreted carefully.

WHO also emphasizes the need for better real-world data. Most existing exposure studies are based on lab conditions. But in cars, EMF levels can change depending on the speed, acceleration, or whether the car is charging. These variables need to be measured and included in future assessments.

WHO’s Recommendations and Protective Measures

WHO uses the exposure limits set by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) as the global standard. These limits are designed to prevent short-term, well-understood effects. For the general public, the ICNIRP guideline for ELF magnetic fields is 200 μT at 50Hz.

At the same time, WHO acknowledges that long-term health risks from lower-level EMF exposure are not fully understood. Because of this uncertainty, WHO recommends applying the precautionary principle when possible. This means that even in the absence of proven harm, actions should be taken if a plausible risk exists and if solutions are available at a reasonable cost.

Practical steps encouraged by WHO include:

• Reducing exposure where feasible
• Ongoing research and monitoring to reduce scientific uncertainty about long-term effects
• Providing transparent information to consumers

This doesn’t imply that EMFs are definitively dangerous at low levels, but rather that precaution is prudent when evidence is incomplete.

WHO and Public Communication

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a significant part in informing the public about electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. Its goal is to increase awareness while avoiding unnecessary panic. To do this, it offers public reports, educational materials, and general guidance that help people understand the risks.

An important part of WHO’s role is explaining the difference between ionizing radiation (such as X-rays) and non-ionizing radiation (such as the fields produced by electric vehicles). This distinction is critical because it helps prevent confusion between very different types of exposure.

WHO’s position is balanced: it supports the growth of electric transportation, but encourages informed exposure reduction where practical, especially for children, pregnant women, and people who spend long hours in vehicles..

Gaps, Research Needs, and Future Directions

Despite decades of research, many questions remain regarding the effects of long-term exposure to ELF EMFs. WHO has pointed to several areas where further research is particularly important:

• Long-term (epidemiological) studies covering broad populations
• Improved tools / methods for exposure assessment, especially for non-standard environments (because many real-world EMF exposures (like those in vehicles, near wiring, or transient sources) are spatially and temporally variable).
• Studies of combined or “mixed” exposures, such as vehicle EMF, mobile phones, and Wi-Fi use inside the cabin.

A major challenge highlighted in these evaluations is the need for exposure limits that reflect biological considerations, not only thermal effects. Current guidelines primarily address short-term, acute mechanisms, while WHO acknowledges the importance of better understanding potential non-thermal biological responses. This view is supported by other scientific bodies like the BioInitiative Working Group, which advocate for stricter limits based on observed changes in biological systems.

As more data becomes available, these findings are expected to influence both public health policies and how future vehicles are engineered. The direction is clear: protect people where it’s practical, especially in settings with long-term, close-range exposure.

References

1. World Health Organization (2007). Extremely Low Frequency Fields: Environmental Health Criteria 238
2. International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) (2010). ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time‐Varying Electric and Magnetic Fields (1hz – 100 Khz)
3. BioInitiative Working Group. (2012). BioInitiative Report: A Rationale for Biologically-Based Public Exposure Standards
4. European Commission Joint Research Centre (2020). Assessment of Low Frequency Magnetic Fields in Electrified Vehicles
5. Gryz K, Karpowicz J, Zradziński P. (2022). Complex Electromagnetic Issues Associated with the Use of Electric Vehicles in Urban Transportation