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Migault L, Bowman JD, Kromhout H, Figuerola J, Baldi I, Bouvier G, Turner MC, Cardis E, Vila J. Development of a Job-Exposure Matrix for Assessment of Occupational Exposure to High-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (3 kHz-300 GHz). Ann Work Expo Health 2020; 63:1013-1028. [PMID: 31702767 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxz067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this work was to build a job-exposure matrix (JEM) using an international coding system and covering the non-thermal intermediate frequency (IF) (3-100 kHz, named IFELF), thermal IF (100 kHz-10 MHz, named IFRF), and radiofrequency (RF) (>10 MHz) bands. METHODS Detailed occupational data were collected in a large population-based case-control study, INTEROCC, with occupations coded into the International Standard Classification of Occupations system 1988 (ISCO88). The subjects' occupational source-based ancillary information was combined with an existing source-exposure matrix and the reference levels of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for occupational exposure to calculate estimates of level (L) of exposure to electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields by ISCO88 code and frequency band as ICNIRP ratios (IFELF) or squared ratios (IFRF and RF). Estimates of exposure probability (P) were obtained by dividing the number of exposed subjects by the total number of subjects available per job title. RESULTS With 36 011 job histories collected, 468 ISCO88 (four-digit) codes were included in the JEM, of which 62.4% are exposed to RF, IFRF, and/or IFELF. As a reference, P values for RF E-fields ranged from 0.3 to 65.0% with a median of 5.1%. L values for RF E-fields (ICNIRP squared ratio) ranged from 6.94 × 10-11 to 33.97 with a median of 0.61. CONCLUSIONS The methodology used allowed the development of a JEM for high-frequency electromagnetic fields containing exposure estimates for the largest number of occupations to date. Although the validity of this JEM is limited by the small number of available observations for some codes, this JEM may be useful for epidemiological studies and occupational health management programs assessing high-frequency electromagnetic field exposure in occupational settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucile Migault
- University of Bordeaux, Inserm UMR 1219 EPICENE Team, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Hans Kromhout
- Environmental Epidemiology Division, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Nieuw Gildestein Yalelaan, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabelle Baldi
- University of Bordeaux, Inserm UMR 1219 EPICENE Team, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Bordeaux, France.,Bordeaux University Hospital, Service de Médecine du Travail et pathologie professionnelle, Pessac, France
| | - Ghislaine Bouvier
- University of Bordeaux, Inserm UMR 1219 EPICENE Team, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Bordeaux, France
| | - Michelle C Turner
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, Madrid, Spain.,McLaughlin Center for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Vila
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, Madrid, Spain.,Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, McCumiskey House, Richview, Dublin, Ireland
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Misek J, Belyaev I, Jakusova V, Tonhajzerova I, Barabas J, Jakus J. Heart rate variability affected by radiofrequency electromagnetic field in adolescent students. Bioelectromagnetics 2018; 39:277-288. [PMID: 29469164 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the possible effect of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The effect of RF EMF on ANS activity was studied by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) during ortho-clinostatic test (i.e., transition from lying to standing and back) in 46 healthy grammar school students. A 1788 MHz pulsed wave with intensity of 54 ± 1.6 V/m was applied intermittently for 18 min in each trial. Maximum specific absorption rate (SAR10 ) value was determined to 0.405 W/kg. We also measured the respiration rate and estimated a subjective perception of EMF exposure. RF exposure decreased heart rate of subjects in a lying position, while no such change was seen in standing students. After exposure while lying, a rise in high frequency band of HRV and root Mean Square of the Successive Differences was observed, which indicated an increase in parasympathetic nerve activity. Tympanic temperature and skin temperature were measured showing no heating under RF exposure. No RF effect on respiration rate was observed. None of the tested subjects were able to distinguish real exposure from sham exposure when queried at the end of the trial. In conclusion, short-term RF EMF exposure of students in a lying position during the ortho-clinostatic test affected ANS with significant increase in parasympathetic nerve activity compared to sham exposed group. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:277-288, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Misek
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Medical Biophysics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Igor Belyaev
- Laboratory of Radiobiology, Slovak Academy of Science, Biomedical Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Laboratory of Radiobiology, Russian Academy of Science, Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Moscow, Russia
| | - Viera Jakusova
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Public Health, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Ingrid Tonhajzerova
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Physiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia.,Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Biomedical Center Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Jan Barabas
- University of Zilina, University Science Park, Zilina, Slovakia
| | - Jan Jakus
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Medical Biophysics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
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Togo F, Takahashi M. Heart rate variability in occupational health --a systematic review. INDUSTRIAL HEALTH 2009; 47:589-602. [PMID: 19996534 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.47.589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review evaluates and summarizes the evidence of association between work-related factors and heart rate variability (HRV) in workers. We reviewed English articles indexed in MEDLINE under the key words: work, worker, occupational, industrial, and heart rate variability. Studies were included if one or more of the dependent variables was one of the time- or frequency-domain indexes of HRV [standard deviation of all normal-to-normal (NN) intervals (SDNN), mean of the 5-min standard deviations of NN intervals calculated over several hours (SDNN index), the root mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD), integrated spectral powers of high (HF, > 0.15 Hz) and low frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz) HRV, and the LF/HF ratio] as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing Electrophysiology. Physical and chemical work environments (i.e. exposure to occupational toxicants and hazardous environments), psychosocial workload (i.e. job stressors), and working time (i.e. shift work) had been examined and identified as having associations with low HF power. These findings may indicate that research into parasympathetic nervous system activity should be focused to protect cardiovascular health at work. We also propose the use of very low and ultralow frequency HRV components in autonomic research for workers' health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiharu Togo
- National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Tama-ku, Kawasaki 214-8585, Japan.
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Habash RWY, Elwood JM, Krewski D, Lotz WG, McNamee JP, Prato FS. Recent advances in research on radiofrequency fields and health: 2004-2007. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2009; 12:250-288. [PMID: 20183523 DOI: 10.1080/10937400903094125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of wireless telecommunications devices, particularly mobile phones and wireless networks, has resulted in increased human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields. Although national and international agencies have established safety guidelines for exposure to RF fields, concerns remain about the potential for adverse health outcomes to occur in relation to RF field exposure. The extensive literature on RF fields and health was reviewed by a number of authorities, including the Royal Society of Canada (1999). This report is the third in a series of updates to the original report of the Royal Society of Canada, covering the period 2004-2007. In particular, the present study examined new data on (1) dosimetry and exposure assessment, (2) biological effects of RF fields such as enzyme induction, and (3) toxicological effects, including genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Epidemiological studies of the potential health effects of RF exposure, particularly from mobile phones, were determined, along with human and animal studies of neurological and behavioural effects. Within the last 4 yrs investigators concluded that there is no clear evidence of adverse health effects associated with RF fields, although continued research is recommended to address specific areas of concern, including exposure to RF fields among children using mobile phones. The results of the ongoing 13-country World Health Organization INTERPHONE study of mobile phones may provide important new information on the potential cancer risks associated with mobile phone use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riadh W Y Habash
- R. Samuel McLaughlin Center for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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