The interference threshold of cardiac pacemakers in electric 50 Hz fields

The aim of the study was to determine a 'worst-case' and a 'real-case' interference threshold for implanted cardiac pacemakers (CPM) in electric 50 Hz fields as they appear in high-voltage plants, e.g. beneath high voltage overhead lines. For this purpose the resulting electrical potential distribution within the thorax area of volunteers from an external homogeneous electrical 50 Hz field was measured. Different factors such as different body geometries as well as inspiration and expiration of the lung were considered. Measurements showed that I per 1 kV m -1 unimpaired electrical field strength (RMS) an interference voltage of about 180 μVpp as real-case value and 400 μVpp as worst-case value would occur at the input of a unipolar ventricularly controlled, left pectorally implanted cardiac pacemaker. Therefore, it is possible under worst-case conditions but unlikely under practice-relevant conditions that an implanted cardiac pacemaker is disturbed by present electric 50 Hz fields beneath high voltage overhead lines.