 Physiological effects of
current density on the human body are shown in the table below. Contrary to popular belief, it is the
current - not the voltage - level which is responsible for effects. According to Ohm's Law, of course,
a certain voltage is required to cause the necessary currents to flow. Values show vary depending on
the body.
Personally, I have been hit with 480 V while working on a 3-phase industrial motor connection. It
didn't feel good.
See article on
shock
level versus pain level from Discover magazine.
The following table of quantity of electrical current and its effect on men and women is from work
done by the inventor of the Ground Fault Interrupter circuit,
Charles Dalziel.
Slight sensation on hand |
1 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
7 |
5 |
Perception threshold, median |
5.2 |
3.5 |
1.1 |
0.7 |
12 |
8 |
Shock - not painful and muscular control not lost |
9 |
6 |
1.8 |
1.2 |
17 |
11 |
Painful shock - muscular control lost by ½% |
62 |
41 |
9 |
6 |
55 |
37 |
Painful shock - let-go threshold, median |
76 |
51 |
16 |
10.5 |
75 |
50 |
Painful and severe shock - breathing difficult, muscular control lost by 99½% |
90 |
60 |
23 |
15 |
94 |
63 |
Possible ventricular fibrillation Three-second shocks Short shocks (T in seconds) High voltage
surges* Energy in watt-seconds
|
500
50 |
500
50 |
100 165√T 13.6* |
100 165√T 13.6* |
|
|
Table retrieved from the "Deleterious Effects
of Electric Shock," by Professor Charles Dalziel, 1961.
1 |
Threshold of sensation |
8 |
Mild sensation |
10 |
Painful |
13 |
Cannot let go |
21 |
Muscular paralysis |
20 |
Severe shock |
38 |
Breathing labored |
42 |
Breathing upset |
70 |
Extreme breathing difficulties |
90 |
Ventricular fibrillation |
100 |
Death |
Above is the original table for this page.
Posted April 26, 2004
|