Epidemiological study

The effect of chronic exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on sleep quality, stress, depression and anxiety epidem.

By: Hosseinabadi MB, Khanjani N, Ebrahimi MH, Haji B, Abdolahfard M

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2019; 38 (1): 96-101

Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Stress, depression, and anxiety were assessed by a short version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale.

stress, depression and anxiety
sleep disturbances: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction

Group	Description
Reference group 1	unexposed workers
Group 2	exposed workers

Type	Value
Total	275

Other:

132 exposed workers and 143 unexposed workers

Statistical analysis method:

The mean measured magnetic flux density was 29.2 ± 27.6 µT. Technicians were most exposed (58.7 ± 44.9 µT) and office workers were less exposed (13.9 ± 3.1 µT).
The workers in the exposed group experienced significantly poorer sleep quality and more often depression than the unexposed group. Stress, depression, and anxiety had a linear trend with increased exposure. Sleep quality in technicians with the highest exposure was significantly lower than the other groups.
The authors conclude that the results suggest that long-term occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields may lead to depression, stress, anxiety and poor sleep quality.

Bagheri Hosseinabadi M et al. (2021): Oxidative stress associated with long term occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields
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
Touitou Y et al. (2020): Evaluation in humans of ELF-EMF exposure on chromogranin A, a marker of neuroendocrine tumors and stress
Hosseinabadi MB et al. (2019): The Effect of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Role of Oxidative Stress
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
Monazzam MR et al. (2014): Sleep quality and general health status of employees exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields in a petrochemical complex
Liu H et al. (2014): Occupational electromagnetic field exposures associated with sleep quality: a cross-sectional study
Barsam T et al. (2012): Effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on sleep quality in high voltage substations
Yousefi HA et al. (2004): Psychological effects of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields