During 2001, persons who attributed their health problems to environmental exposures, e.g. electromagnetic fields, were counselled in an interdisciplinary environmental medicine pilot project in the Basel area. The aim of the study was to compare the exposure situation of low frequency and high frequency electromagnetic fields in the residences of the patients of the information center. Furthermore, it was investigated whether persons who believe that electromagnetic fields are the only reason for their health complaints differ from persons who blame other environmental stress factors.
High frequency and low frequency electromagnetic field measurements were conducted at the homes of those participants who attributed their health complaints specifically to electromagnetic fields. The plausibility of a relation between health complaints and electromagnetic field exposure was discussed in joint case conferences. Plausibility was judged on the basis of the following criteria: Electromagnetic field levels had to exceed a tenth of the Swiss limit values to be considered in the case conference (low frequency: 10 V/m, 0.1µT, high frequency: 0.6 V/m). The irradiation had to occur in an area where the persons spent at least several hours or more every day. Prerequisite was that the irradiation occurred before the onset of symptoms.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
5 Hz–400 kHz
Exposure duration:
here not relevant
|
|
|
Exposure 2:
700 MHz–3 GHz
Exposure duration:
here not relevant
|
|
all measurments took place at the homes of the participants
| Frequency | 5 Hz–400 kHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | here not relevant |
| Additional info | Frequency range used for magnetic field and electric field measurements were between 5 Hz to 50 kHz and 5 Hz to 400 kHz, respectively. |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| electric field strength | 110 V/m | maximum | measured | - | in the bedroom |
| electric field strength | 200 V/m | maximum | measured | - | in the kitchen |
| magnetic flux density | 1.5 µT | maximum | measured | - | in the bedroom |
| electric field strength | 90 V/m | maximum | measured | - | in the living room |
| magnetic flux density | 15 µT | maximum | measured | - | in the study |
| magnetic flux density | 7 µT | minimum | measured | - | in the kitchen |
| electric field strength | 160 V/m | maximum | measured | - | in the study |
| magnetic flux density | 1.45 µT | maximum | measured | - | in the living room |
| Frequency | 700 MHz–3 GHz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | here not relevant |
| Additional info | An additional probe was used for measurement in the frequency range of 700 MHz to 3 GHz to determine the contribution of cellular phone networks. |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| electric field strength | 2.95 V/m | maximum | measured | - | in the kitchen |
| electric field strength | 2.25 V/m | maximum | measured | - | in the bedroom |
| electric field strength | 1.35 V/m | maximum | measured | - | in the living room |
| electric field strength | 9 V/m | maximum | measured | - | in the study |
Although none of the limit values was exceeded, the project team rated an electromagnetic field irradiation a plausible cause of the reported health complaints of few participants (the project team concluded that in 8 of the 25 (32%) participants, at least one of the reported symptoms was related to the electromagnetic field exposure). Due to the high complexity in these cases, only an interdisciplinary team is likely to be able to adequately diagnose environmental related health problems to concerned patients.
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