It is not currently known whether magnetic magnetic fields originating from induction hobs represent a health risk. These magnetic fields can be reduced by correct use of the induction hob. The following tips will help you to get the best results:

• Regulation using the frequency of the alternating current: The induction hob constitutes an electrical oscillating circuit which carries the maximum current at resonant frequency.  If the frequency deviates from the resonant frequency, both current and output are reduced. (Example: full output at the resonant frequency of 17.5 kHz, output is four times lower at 41.7 kHz.)
  
• Regulation using pulse-amplitude modulation: Output is regulated by switching the magnetic field on and off periodically at lower cooking settings. One pulse every two seconds is typically used, with the duration of the pulse varying according to the selected output. The resulting magnetic fields are pulsed at a frequency of 0.5 Hz with varying pulse length.

Appropriate pan, centred vs. inappropriate pan, off-centre
Figure 4 compares the stray fields from an appropriate, centred pan and an unsuitable, off-centre pan (worst case). The stray fields in the worst case are up to 9.5 times larger than the stray field generated by the use according to the standard.

The magnetic field originating from induction hobs leads to electrical currents running through the body of a person standing in front of the hob. In order to avoid acute reactions such as nerve or muscle stimuli, these currents may not exceed the respective reference values set by the ICNIRP for the general public.[TMX1]   

Body currents cannot be measured directly; they have to be calculated with computer simulations using virtual model persons. On behalf of the FOPH, the IT'IS research foundation in Zurich undertook such simulations for models standing directly by the worktop in front of the three tested induction hobs and who are cooking with properly positioned pans suitable for induction hobs. In addition to the magnetic currents, the simulations also took into account gender, age, build, anatomy, tissue characteristics and posture of the following virtual persons:

• Woman, age: 26, height: 1.60 m, weight: 58 kg, not pregnant
• Woman, age: 26, height: 1.60 m, three/seven/nine months pregnant
• Foetuses in the third/seventh/ninth month
• Girl, age: 5, height: 1.08 m, weight: 18 kg
• Boy, age: 6, height: 1.17 m, weight: 20 kg
• Boy, age: 14, height: 1.65 m, weight: 50 kg
• Man, age: 34, height: 1.74 m, weight: 70 kg
• Man, age: 37, height: 1.78 m, weight: 120 kg

The body currents were simulated for the entire body as well as specifically for the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) of persons standing directly by the edge of the worktop. In this position, users tend to be a few centimetres away from the cooking field that is built into or on top of the worktop. The simulation assumed that the models were cooking with pans that were suitable for induction hobs and centred on the cooking zone, covering it up completely. Figures 5 and 6 depict the maximum exposures vis-à-vis the reference value.

The results show that the body currents emanating from the two built-in units fall below or right on the reference value for most models, with the exception of the woman who is nine months pregnant and the six-year-old child, both of whom show body currents above the reference value. The body currents generated by the professional high-performance mobile unit are mostly above the reference value (figure 5). The central nervous system currents are below the reference value for all models (figure 6).