Medical/biological study (observational study)

The Effect of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Role of Oxidative Stress med./bio.

By: Hosseinabadi MB, Khanjani N

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2019; 40 (5): 354-360

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The direct and indirect effects of chronic occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electric fields and magnetic fields on musculoskeletal disorders in workers of a power plant should be investigated.

Background/further details

The indirect effects should be investigated by oxidative stress parameters.
A total of 152 workers from a power plant took part in the study. The personal occupational exposure of each study participant was calculated by measuring the electric and magnetic fields at different workplaces in the power plant and the amount of time the workers spent at these places.

Endpoint

musculoskeletal disorders

Exposure

- occupational

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: LF (< 10 MHz) Exposure duration: at least 2 years work experience at a power plant (participation requirement)	magnetic flux density: 4.09 µT average over time (± 4.08 µT) electric field strength: 22.99 V/m average over time (± 16.27 V/m)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	LF (< 10 MHz)
Type	electric field magnetic field
Exposure duration	at least 2 years work experience at a power plant (participation requirement)

Exposure setup

Exposure source	not specified power plant
Setup	workers were asked to briefly describe their workstations and the amount of time that they spent at them; measurements were done at these spots, and the 8 h time‐weighted average of exposure to magnetic fields and electric fields was calculated

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	4.09 µT	average over time	measured and calculated	-	± 4.08 µT
electric field strength	22.99 V/m	average over time	measured and calculated	-	± 16.27 V/m

Measurement and calculation details

According to the abstract of the article: 16,27 μT (SD=22,99) and 4.09 V/m (SD=4,08) (contradiction to the Table of the article)

Magnetic fields were measured by using Tes‐1394 (TES Electrical Electronic, Taiwan) with a measurement range of 30-2,000 Hz and a measurement accuracy of ± 3% at 50/60 Hz; vertical electric fields measurements were done by using HI‐3604 ELF (Holaday Industries, USA) with a frequency range of 30-2,000 Hz, and a dynamic range of 1 V/m-200 kV/m; the devices’ probes were positioned at a height of 1 m and the measurements were done for about 2 min at each spot; the weather condition effect was mitigated by measuring only on sunny summer days between 4 and 9 pm

Reference articles

Cam ST et al. (2011): Occupational exposure to magnetic fields from transformer stations and electric enclosures in Turkey

Exposed system:

human
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

musculoskeletal disorders (pain in 9 different regions of the body; Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire) and oxidative stress in blood serum (enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity and level of malondialdehyde as a marker for lipid peroxidation; sandwich ELISA); demographic data (e.g. age, weight, medical history; questionnaire)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
blood samples
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

muscular/skeletal system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The results showed that occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electric fields and magnetic fields are not directly related to musculoskeletal disorders, although increased levels of oxidative stress may cause musculoskeletal disorders. However, the effect of occupational exposure to electric fields and magnetic fields on oxidative stress parameters was not investigated.

Study character:

medical/biological study
observational study
full/main study

Study funded by

Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Bagheri Hosseinabadi M et al. (2021): Oxidative stress associated with long term occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields
Hosseinabadi MB et al. (2020): Investigating the effects of vitamins E and C on oxidative stress and hematological parameters among power plant workers: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
Touitou Y et al. (2020): Evaluation in humans of ELF-EMF exposure on chromogranin A, a marker of neuroendocrine tumors and stress
Bagheri Hosseinabadi M et al. (2020): The effect of vitamin E and C on comet assay indices and apoptosis in power plant workers: A double blind randomized controlled clinical trial
Gunes S et al. (2020): Effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure on the skeletal muscle functions in rats
Bagheri Hosseinabadi M et al. (2020): Investigating the effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on job burnout syndrome and the severity of depression; the role of oxidative stress
Hosseinabadi MB et al. (2019): The effect of chronic exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on sleep quality, stress, depression and anxiety
Hosseinabadi MB et al. (2019): Effect of long-term occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on proinflammatory cytokine and hematological parameters
Hosseinabadi MB et al. (2019): DNA damage from long-term occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields among power plant workers
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