Estimation of ambient electric fields generated by dirty electricity from compact fluorescent lamps

The concept of dirty electricity has been the focus of studies with respect to its possible association with certain diseases, for example cancer and diabetes [Milham and Lloyd Morgan (2008)] [Havas (2008)]. Yet, there is no definition of the term dirty electricity in the electrical engineering literature, although it has been suggested by some to be transient voltages on electrical wires occurring in the frequency range 4–100 kHz. The instrument offered to measure dirty electricity is the Graham-Stetzer microsurge meter, which gives readings in Graham-Stetzer Units (GSUs). Unfortunately, no derivation of the GSU is provided by the manufacturer of the instrument in terms of other scientific units, making interpretation of the GSU difficult. Obviously, since dirty electricity is a voltage on the wires, it would be of interest to know what a GSU reading represented in terms of ambient fields in the home since this is the  only mechanism for these voltages to interact with the human body (other than through direct contact with the wires, which would result in electric shock).

Gajda, G., Thansandote, A., Lemay, E., McNamee, J., & Bellier, P. V. (2010). Estimation of ambient electric fields generated by dirty electricity from compact fluorescent lamps. In BEMS 2010 Annual Meeting, 2010 June 13 (Vol. 18).