Evaluation of nerve stimulation of electromagnetic field by lightning current pulses

The lightning current generates a time varying magnetic field near down conductors, when lightning strikes the connected Franklin-rod. The down conductors are mounted on the wall of buildings, where residential places can be situated. It is well known that the rapidly changing magnetic fields could generate dangerous eddy currents in the human body. If the duration and the gradient of the magnetic field were high enough, the peripheral nerves are excited. In this study, the authors introduce an improved model of the interaction of electromagnetic fields of lighting current near a down conductor with the human body. The new interaction model has two parts: estimation of the magnetic fields surrounding the down conductor by a new numerical model and evaluation of health effects of rapid changing magnetic fields on the human body based on different nerve and neuron excitation models.