Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France
Background: A preliminary job-exposure matrix (JEM) for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) was created based on self-reported occupational information from a multi-country population-based study of approximately 10,000 participants combined with available measurement data compiled in a s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023004294 |
| _version_ | 1827793689380913152 |
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| author | Maxime Turuban Hans Kromhout Javier Vila Miquel Vallbona-Vistós Isabelle Baldi Michelle C. Turner |
| author_facet | Maxime Turuban Hans Kromhout Javier Vila Miquel Vallbona-Vistós Isabelle Baldi Michelle C. Turner |
| author_sort | Maxime Turuban |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: A preliminary job-exposure matrix (JEM) for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) was created based on self-reported occupational information from a multi-country population-based study of approximately 10,000 participants combined with available measurement data compiled in a source-exposure matrix (spot measurements). In order to address the limited personal occupational RF-EMF measurement data available in the literature, we performed a measurement campaign among workers in various occupations in Spain and France. Methods: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted using RadMan 2XT™ (Narda) devices. A worker diary was used to capture information on occupational and background sources of RF exposure during the shift. Inclusion of occupations to be measured was initially based on exposure prevalence and level information in the preliminary JEM and expert judgment. Results: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted among 333 workers representing 46 ISCO88 occupations. Exposure to electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields was infrequent with >99% of measurements below the detection limit of the device (≥1% of the 1998 ICNIRP standards). A total of 50.2% and 77.2% of workers were ever exposed to E and H fields respectively (having at least one recorded 1-second measurement above the detection limit). Workers in elementary occupations, technicians and associate professionals, plant and machine operators and assemblers had somewhat greater numbers of measurements above the detection limit, higher maximum values and longer exposure durations. A small proportion of measurements were ≥100% of the standards, though these exceedances were brief (generally a few seconds in duration). Female workers and workers reporting use of any RF-EMF emitting source were more likely to have a measured exposure to E and H fields. Conclusion: We conducted personal RF-EMF measurements among workers in various occupations in Spain and France. Overall, RF-EMF exposure ≥1 % ICNIRP was infrequent, despite some intermittent exposures ≥100% observed among workers in some occupations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:23:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-60893808d66f48d5a26daca31b913a01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:23:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj.art-60893808d66f48d5a26daca31b913a012023-10-15T04:36:22ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202023-10-01180108156Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and FranceMaxime Turuban0Hans Kromhout1Javier Vila2Miquel Vallbona-Vistós3Isabelle Baldi4Michelle C. Turner5Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, SpainInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, Wexford, IrelandBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, SpainINSERM UMR 1219 Epicene Team, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Bordeaux, France; Service Santé Travail Environnement, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FranceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author at: Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.Background: A preliminary job-exposure matrix (JEM) for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) was created based on self-reported occupational information from a multi-country population-based study of approximately 10,000 participants combined with available measurement data compiled in a source-exposure matrix (spot measurements). In order to address the limited personal occupational RF-EMF measurement data available in the literature, we performed a measurement campaign among workers in various occupations in Spain and France. Methods: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted using RadMan 2XT™ (Narda) devices. A worker diary was used to capture information on occupational and background sources of RF exposure during the shift. Inclusion of occupations to be measured was initially based on exposure prevalence and level information in the preliminary JEM and expert judgment. Results: Personal full-shift measurements were conducted among 333 workers representing 46 ISCO88 occupations. Exposure to electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields was infrequent with >99% of measurements below the detection limit of the device (≥1% of the 1998 ICNIRP standards). A total of 50.2% and 77.2% of workers were ever exposed to E and H fields respectively (having at least one recorded 1-second measurement above the detection limit). Workers in elementary occupations, technicians and associate professionals, plant and machine operators and assemblers had somewhat greater numbers of measurements above the detection limit, higher maximum values and longer exposure durations. A small proportion of measurements were ≥100% of the standards, though these exceedances were brief (generally a few seconds in duration). Female workers and workers reporting use of any RF-EMF emitting source were more likely to have a measured exposure to E and H fields. Conclusion: We conducted personal RF-EMF measurements among workers in various occupations in Spain and France. Overall, RF-EMF exposure ≥1 % ICNIRP was infrequent, despite some intermittent exposures ≥100% observed among workers in some occupations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023004294RF-EMFOccupational exposurePersonal measurementsJob-exposure matrix |
| spellingShingle | Maxime Turuban Hans Kromhout Javier Vila Miquel Vallbona-Vistós Isabelle Baldi Michelle C. Turner Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France Environment International RF-EMF Occupational exposure Personal measurements Job-exposure matrix |
| title | Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France |
| title_full | Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France |
| title_fullStr | Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France |
| title_full_unstemmed | Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France |
| title_short | Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in Spain and France |
| title_sort | personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in various occupations in spain and france |
| topic | RF-EMF Occupational exposure Personal measurements Job-exposure matrix |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023004294 |
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