The effect of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on the secretion of cortisol in 14 men working in extra-high voltage substations were investigated.
Additionally, the workers lived in houses that were close to substations and high voltage power lines. Thus, they had long histories (1-20 years) of long-term exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields. Blood samples were taken hourly from 20:00 to 08:00 the next morning. Cortisol concentrations and patterns were compared to age-matched, unexposed control subjects (n=15) whose exposure level was ten times lower.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
50 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous for up to 20 years
|
|
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for up to 20 years |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 0.1 µT | minimum | measured | - | weekly geometric mean (individual exposure) |
| magnetic flux density | 2.6 µT | maximum | measured | - | weekly geometric mean (individual exposure) |
| magnetic flux density | 0.72 µT | mean | calculated | - | of 15 workers |
| magnetic flux density | 0.82 µT | mean | calculated | - | arithmetic means of the residential exposure |
| magnetic flux density | 0.64 µT | mean | calculated | - | arithmetic means of the daytime exposure |
The comparison of the control group and the exposure groups (0.1-0.3 μT (n = 5) and > 0.3 μT (n = 9)) revealed a significant effect of field intensity on the cortisol secretory pattern. The data suggest that chronic exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields alters the serum cortisol levels with a statistically significant decline in the peak-time (06:00–08:00) cortisol levels even at the lower intensity of exposure, although the general secretory pattern of cortisol was unaffected.
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